Mali to Host Second AES Heads of State Summit

Mali will host the second summit of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in Bamako, one year after the first meeting was held in Niamey, Niger, on July 6, 2024. The summit will bring together the leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to review progress made since the formation of the AES Confederation and to plan the next steps.

The meeting will also mark the end of Mali’s one-year presidency of the alliance, led by Colonel Assimi Goïta. It is expected that Goïta will use the occasion to give an overview of what has been achieved under his leadership.

Since last year, the CSS has taken several steps to build closer ties between the three countries. A joint anthem was launched on June 9, and CSS passports were introduced in January to help people move more freely across borders. The alliance is also working on creating a shared investment bank and a common currency to reduce dependence on foreign financial systems.

Security is another major focus of the summit. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger face serious threats from armed groups and terrorism. In response, the three countries are building a common defence strategy. In early 2025, they announced a joint military force of 5,000 troops to better coordinate their efforts.

The CSS was officially formed in 2023 as an alliance after the three countries left the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS. They accused ECOWAS of being influenced by foreign powers and not respecting their sovereignty. Since then, the CSS has focused on building its own political and security structures.

This year’s summit is expected to highlight the CSS’s goal of strengthened cooperation among its members and greater independence from foreign influence.

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