Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Finalise Regional Alliance Project

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

Junta-run Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have finalised plans to form a confederation.

Historical perspective:

The Sahel region has faced years of deadly jihadist violence.
In January, the three countries announced their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), criticizing it for being under French influence and deciding to establish their own regional grouping.
These three nations, all former French colonies recently overtaken by military regimes.

Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES):

Countries Involved: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
Background and Motivation: These three nations have severed ties with their former colonial ruler, France, and are seeking closer relations with Russia.
The decision is influenced by dissatisfaction with France’s inability to curb jihadist violence in the Sahel region.
The foreign ministers of the three countries met in Niamey, Niger’s capital, to finalize a text for establishing the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

About the Liptako-Gourma Charter:

The Liptako-Gourma Charter establishes the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
It aims to “establish an architecture of collective defence and mutual assistance for the benefit of the population”.
This alliance will be a combination of military and economic efforts between the three countries.
The charter binds the signatories to assist one another, including militarily — in the event of an attack on any one of them.
It also binds the three countries to work to prevent or settle armed rebellions.

Liptako-Gourma region:

Significance:

The creation of AES marks a significant geopolitical shift in the Sahel region, highlighting the countries’ intent to pursue greater autonomy and regional cooperation, distancing themselves from traditional Western influence.

About the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS):

Also known as CEDEAO in French.
It is the regional group which was established in 1975 through the Lagos Treaty.
Headquarters: Abuja, Nigeria.
Mandate: Promoting economic integration among its members.
The vision of ECOWAS is the creation of a “borderless region” that is well-integrated and governed in accordance with the principles of democracy, rule of law and good governance.
Members: Benin, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo.
ECOWAS’ larger aims are to have a single common currency and create a single, large trading bloc in areas of industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, financial issues, and social and cultural matters.
Along with the goals of economic cooperation, it has attempted to quell military conflicts in the region.
It also operated a regional peacekeeping operation known as ECOMOG, led by Nigeria in the 1990s and early 2000s.