Burkina Faso leader Traore na new Chairman of di Alliance of Sahel States
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images/'STANISLAV KRASILNIKOV/Anadolu
Burkina Faso military ruler, Capt Ibrahim Traore, don become di new Chairman of di Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
E take ova di rotating presidency from Mali military leader Gen Assimi Goita during di 2nd Ordinary Session of di College of Heads of States summit wey hold for Bamako on Tuesday, 23 December.
Di summit bring togeda di three AES leaders: General Assimi Goita (Mali), Captain Ibrahim Traoré (Burkina Faso), and General Abdourahamane Tiani (Niger).
For im remarks, Traore bin warn of one severe West African instability, e call "Black Winter" wey e blame on "imperialists" wey dey sponsor militant groups to further destabilise di region.
E also accuse unnamed African "cowardly heads of state" say dem undermine regional security forces and destroy public confidence for di juntas wey dey govern di three AES member states.
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Di AES no announce any major new initiatives. However, according to one communique wey Mali foreign ministry publish, di leaders instruct dia ministers to implement additional measures to counter wetin dem term "negative" information campaigns.
Di summit also approve proposals wey dey aimed at further institutionalising security, political, diplomatic and economic cooperation among di three countries.
Di new AES Chairman stress am say di region dey face choice between "unity and subjugation," as e insist say na only collective resistance fit prevent imperialist powers from destabilising di Sahel.
"Either we unite against imperialism forever or end up as slaves until we disappear," e add, e call for vigilance and resilience while e emphasise on non-violence in response to provocation.
Niger junta chief Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani tok about AES sovereignty, security, and institutional progress.
"Na sovereign choice, assumed in di highest interest of our countries, for di sake of history and di future," e tok. E condemn foreign powers, especially France, for destabilisation through resource exploitation, biased contracts, and disinformation.
Tchiani outline three pillars of AES progress, wey include unified defence force under integrated command, coordinated diplomacy wit di bloc as dem dey speak wit one voice, plus a confederal investment bank to fund development and reduce reliance on external donors.
Di leaders express solidarity wit Niger ova wetin dem describe as "judicial harassment" by France state-owned nuclear fuel company Orano.
Di company recently file one complaint for one Paris court on top di alleged "theft" of 1,000 tonnes of processed uranium, or yellowcake, wey di Niger junta seize from former mining sites.
"Dis desperate attempt to manipulate di justice system for di purpose of monopolising Niger natural resources na perfect example of di kasala wey Orano find imsef," di AES tok.
How AES start
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger bin form di Alliance of Sahel States (AES) for 2024, as a regional confederation for mutual defence and economic integration following military coups for all di three nations.
Initially, dem create di AES afta di signing of di Liptako-Gourma Charter for Bamako for September 2023.
On 27 July 2023, Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) bin announce sanctions against Niger, plus di suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between dia members and Niger and freezing of all assets of military officers wey get hand for di coup wey President Mohamed Bazoum on 26 July, if dem fail to reinstate Bazoum.
Mali and Burkina Faso junta leaders bin kick against di sanctions and warn say military intervention against Niger go mean a declaration of war on Mali and Burkina Faso.
For January 2024, di three countries announce dia withdrawal from Ecowas.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger later sign one treaty to establish di Confederation of Sahel States for July 2024, wey di aim na to enable di AES broaden dia scope of integration.
Di AES bin create joint force to fight jihadist groups, dem launch AES passport and create one regional court.
Dem don promise to abandon di CFA franc and launch dia own currency.
Russia bin hail di creation of di AES and di member states don since continue to discuss areas of cooperation wit Moscow amid promises to strengthen ties.
