Niamey: Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine convened a meeting with relevant ministers and the national committee of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in preparation for imminent senior officials' and ministers' meetings. This gathering, which took place on the morning of Saturday, February 21, 2026, was aimed at reviewing the roadmap for the second year of the Confederation of Sahel States.According to Burkina Information Agency, the discussions are part of preparations for the forthcoming meetings of senior officials and ministers scheduled for February 24, 25, and 26, 2026, in Burkina Faso. The aim is to evaluate and discuss the roadmap for the second year of the Confederation. Ms. Bayard Mariama Gamatié, vice-president of the AES national committee in Niger, communicated to the press that Burkina Faso has shared a draft roadmap intended for the AES confederation's second year.She emphasized that the national committee concentrated on three pillars: defense, security, diplomacy, and development. Amendments were made to the draft sent by Burkina Faso, and the committee took the opportunity to align their perspectives on the report that experts will present to the ministers. This preparatory work is crucial as it will be validated by the Prime Minister and the ministers attending the Burkina Faso meeting.Ms. Bayard Mariama Gamatié further explained that the ministers have taken ownership of the document, offering necessary guidance and proposing corrections and reformulations. She confirmed that the roadmap, incorporating Niger's amendments, has been validated.The vice-president highlighted the consensus-based process at the AES level, noting that in Burkina Faso, alongside Malian proposals, the outcome of two days of expert work and one day of ministerial discussions will culminate in a roadmap presentation to the college of heads of state.