The Sahel region, long plagued by instability, terrorism, and economic marginalization, has witnessed a transformative shift with the emergence of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
The long-awaited solution to Africans sitting on mineral wealth, yet called poor nations per happiness indexes in the world narrative, is changing in the AES.
Comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—three nations governed by military-led regimes following a people’s inspired coups between 2020 and 2023—the AES represents a bold challenge to the status quo in West Africa.
Its formal establishment in January 2025, building on a 2023 mutual defense pact, marks a decisive break from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), underscoring deepening disillusionment with the bloc’s perceived alignment with Western interests and inadequate response to regional crises.
This realignment signals a redefinition of sovereignty, security, and economic autonomy in a region grappling with existential threats.
Distressfully, for how long can the sovereign states who claim to have gained political independence from colonial dominion in Africa continue to be abused through neo-colonial elitist puppets in government?
Context:
Crisis, Coups, and the Birth of the AES-
The AES emerged against a backdrop of escalating jihadist violence, weak governance, and public frustration with foreign intervention.
Mali (2020, 2021),
Burkina Faso (2022), and Niger (2023) experienced military takeovers that ousted governments accused of failing to protect citizens and overly reliant on former colonial power France.
ECOWAS, which had long positioned itself as a guardian of democratic norms, responded with sanctions and ultimatums, further alienating the juntas.
By 2023, the trio solidified a mutual defense pact, vowing collective resistance to external pressure and jihadist threats.
This evolved into the AES in 2025, framed as a pragmatic alliance prioritizing sovereignty and grassroots security over institutional diplomacy.
ECOWAS Under Scrutiny:
A Crisis of Legitimacy-
The AES’s withdrawal from ECOWAS has exposed systemic flaws within the 50-year-old bloc:
- Security Failures:
Despite decades of peacekeeping missions, ECOWAS struggled to curb cross-border terrorism, with groups like ISIS-GS and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam gaining ground.
The bloc’s reliance on external partners like France—whose counterterrorism operations grew increasingly unpopular—eroded local trust. - Democratic Double Standards:
While ECOWAS condemned the Sahel coups, critics highlighted its muted response to unconstitutional third-term extensions by leaders in Côte d’Ivoire (2020) and Guinea (2021).
This inconsistency fueled perceptions of politicized governance. - Economic Stagnation: ECOWAS’s long-delayed plans for a common currency (the Eco) and limited intraregional trade (just 15% of total trade) underscored its inability to advance economic integration.
The CFA franc, pegged to the euro and overseen by France, remained a symbol of enduring colonial-era economic ties.
Reflectively, the ECOWAS should not deviate from its healthy original mandate and constitute itself into a puppetry neo-colonial elitist boardroom.
Instead, it should stay true to its original objectives to serve the broad interests of Africans.
Even voices within ECOWAS, like Ghanaian President John Mahama, acknowledged a “ruptured trust” requiring urgent repair.
The AES Vision: Sovereignty, Security, and Solidarity-
Positioning itself as a “bank of hope” for marginalized populations, the AES outlines an ambitious agenda:
• Collective Security:
A 5,000-strong joint force aims to combat terrorism independently, reducing reliance on foreign troops (e.g., France’s withdrawn Operation Barkhane and the EU’s Takuba Task Force).
Early operations in 2024 targeted jihadist strongholds along the Mali-Burkina border, though efficacy remains uneven.
• Economic Decolonization:
Plans to replace the CFA franc with a Sahelian currency by 2027 seek to assert monetary sovereignty.
While details are scarce, the move aligns with broader anti-French sentiment and echoes regional precedents (e.g., Guinea’s 1960 CFA exit).
• Cultural Unity:
Shared language policies (promoting indigenous languages alongside French) and cross-border educational initiatives aim to foster a cohesive Sahelian identity.
Challenges and Geopolitical Implications-
The AES’s rise carries profound risks and opportunities:
- Internal Vulnerabilities: Member states rank among the world’s poorest (GDP per capita under $900), with weak institutions and escalating humanitarian crises (35 million Sahelians need aid in 2025).
A common currency without fiscal convergence could destabilize economies. - Regional Fractures: ECOWAS faces fragmentation, losing 65% of its Sahel territory. Border closures and trade disruptions with AES nations threaten millions reliant on cross-border commerce.
- Global Power Dynamics:
The AES deepens Russia’s influence via Wagner Group security partnerships, while Western powers scramble to recalibrate engagement.
China, a major infrastructure investor, adopts a pragmatic wait-and-see approach.
Toward a New Regional Order?
The AES embodies a broader rejection of post-colonial hierarchies, demanding agency in security and economic policies.
While its long-term viability is certain, the alliance has compelled ECOWAS to rethink.
Proposals for a “two-tier” ECOWAS, offering associate membership to AES states, and dialogues on shared counterterrorism goals suggest tentative steps toward coexistence.
For the Sahel, the AES’s success hinges on delivering tangible security and economic gains to its populace.
For West Africa, it is a wake-up call:
Regional institutions must evolve to address grassroots aspirations or risk irrelevance.
In this turbulent era, the Sahel’s fate will reverberate far beyond its borders.
Bravo to the Sahelian redemptive transformational leadership. The people of Africa are with you wholeheartedly – being the nucleus of the New Africa.
Benjamin Anyagre Aziginaateeg,
CEO, AfriKan Continental Union Consult -ACUC-