Mali : Sahel Leaders Talk Cooperation

A second summit of leaders of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), is ongoing in the Malian capital, Bamako. The summit from December 22-23, 2025 brings together leaders from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. For two days, the three leaders, Assimi Goita, Abdourahamane Tiani and Ibrahim Traore, are not only brainstorming on how to deepen security, economic, and diplomatic cooperation, but also ways of solidifying their Confederation after leaving the G5 Sahel group that focused on countering terrorism, boosting regional stability, and creating shared development. During their meeting, the Heads of State are also expected to endorse the signing, by their foreign ministers, of a protocol establishing the AES Television, which will be headquartered in Bamako. Discussions will also focus on the proposed creation of a joint investment bank which has been on the agenda of previous summits.
Prior to the summit, a unified force for the Sahel countries aimed at tackling security challenges was launched at an air force base in Bamako by Mali’s Head of State, General Assimi Goita. The force is the latest in a series of measures by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to achieve closer integration. In January, Niger's defence minister said that, the 5,000-strong force would “intervene together” to counter security threats in the region. Burkinabe General, Daouda Traore was appointed to head the force which will mai...