The Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) has officially adopted an anthem to serve as the musical symbol of its Confederation, Burkinabe state broadcaster RTB reported on Saturday, May 10.
The approval was given by the ministers in charge of culture from AES member states, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, one month after the launch of a competition to create the anthem. The initiative aimed to produce a composition that reflects the union’s core values, including sovereignty, patriotism, solidarity, fraternity, loyalty, unity, resilience, bravery, work, and endogenous development.
According to the call for submissions issued by Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Communication, the competition was open to individuals, legal entities, and groups from the three CSS countries residing in Burkina Faso. Entries were required to include a harmonised score, a recording (either a cappella or with accompaniment), lyrics in French or another official language of the member countries, and a note detailing the artistic approach.
Submissions were judged on originality, aesthetics, clarity, conciseness, and alignment with the stated values for the lyrics. Musical components were evaluated based on melody, harmony, rhythm, cultural relevance, and a maximum duration of two minutes.
The CSS was formed as an alliance in September 2023 and became a Confederation in July 2024 after announcing its departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January. Since then, the bloc has adopted a joint passport in January 2025, followed by a flag and logo in February, and is preparing to launch a joint military force.
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