{"id":19244,"date":"2026-01-12T13:35:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T13:35:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qiraatafrican.com\/en\/?p=19244"},"modified":"2026-01-12T13:35:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T13:35:24","slug":"the-aes-and-the-reconfiguration-of-regional-security-architecture-a-look-at-the-2025-bamako-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qiraatafrican.com\/en\/19244\/the-aes-and-the-reconfiguration-of-regional-security-architecture-a-look-at-the-2025-bamako-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"The AES and the Reconfiguration of Regional Security Architecture: A Look at the 2025 Bamako Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Regional integration in Africa has been a major goal of African states since they began to attain independence in the 1950s. In addition to the African Union (AU),<\/a> which serves as the main continental integration organisation, several sub-regional bodies have emerged across the continent. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger launched the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)<\/a> in September 2023 and formally withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)<\/a> in January 2025 following a yearlong process.<\/p>\n

The alliance has since expanded its ambitions to include political and economic integration. According to the organisation, the Confederation of Sahel States (AES)<\/a> was not created against anyone. It is the result of a historical journey dating back to the creation of the Liptako-Gourma Authority (LGA) in 1970.<\/p>\n

The AES stated that it is a response to the exacerbation of insecurity<\/a>, the failure of international military interventions against terrorism in the region, poor governance including security, clumsy management of the political crisis in the three countries by the AU and ECOWAS and their lack of solidarity, the imposition of inhumane, illegal sanctions and threats of armed aggression. Adding that, it aims at a deeper integration of the three countries in the areas of defence and security, diplomacy, and development.<\/p>\n

The three countries have announced the launch of a joint military battalion aimed at fighting armed groups across the Sahel, one of Africa\u2019s poorest and most volatile regions. Media reports said the initiative was announced at the end of the two-day Alliance of Sahel States (AES) summit in the Malian capital, Bamako<\/a>, as the three countries struggle to improve the security situation amid rising attacks from separatist groups as well as armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS).<\/p>\n

2025 Bamako Summit: Key Decisions and Institutional Developments<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The AES, encompassing some 78 million people, continues to deepen integration in security, economy<\/a> and information, signalling a push for greater regional autonomy in the Sahel. Under the leadership of Gen. Assimi Goita<\/a>, the Malian president, the second AES summit, held in Bamako, Mali, in December 2025, marked a symbolic and operational turning point in regional security cooperation. General Assimi Goita said that the confederation<\/a> would continue to diversify its international partnerships, \u201cparticularly with emerging powers, in full respect of our sovereignty.\u201d Meanwhile, the Burkina Faso leader Captain Ibrahim Traor\u00e9<\/a> has been named the new head of the Alliance of Sahel States.<\/p>\n

1. Security Architecture: A Unified Force<\/strong><\/p>\n

The military leaders of the three nations have kicked out long-time security partners France and the United States, turning instead to Russia<\/a> as an ally in their bid to advance regional sovereignty, with the recent launch of the 5,000-strong AES Unified Force (FU-AES) seen as a key milestone for the bloc.<\/p>\n

With an integrated command structure and headquarters in Niamey<\/a>, the force is framed as a homegrown security apparatus capable of conducting coordinated military responses against Islamist extremist groups and cross-border insecurity, a core threat in the Sahel.<\/p>\n

2. Media and Narrative Control<\/strong><\/p>\n

The AES launched AES Television<\/a>, a new regional broadcaster based in the Malian capital, Bamako. The AES Television is considered a key step toward shared media sovereignty for the West African group and has been described in official communications as an instrument to counter disinformation and promote the region’s narrative. Goita also highlighted the launch of AES Television, describing it as a strategic tool \u201cto break disinformation campaigns<\/a> and hostile narratives targeting our states.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Economic and Institutional Foundations<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Summit discussions also advanced key institutions, as the group has also established the Confederal Bank for Investment and Development (BCID-AES)<\/a>, with an initial capital of 500 billion CFA francs (nearly $900 million), that aims to reduce reliance on external donors in financing infrastructure, energy and agriculture projects. Addressing economic issues, the Malian president rejected narratives portraying the Sahel<\/a> as structurally poor. \u201cThe AES space has immense mining and agricultural potential capable of feeding our populations and supporting development,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

4. Reconfiguration of Regional Security Architecture<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bamako Summit represents a reorientation of security governance in West Africa in several interlinked ways:<\/p>\n