Niger Reviews and Approves Draft Roadmap for Second Year of AES Confederation

The Government of Niger has taken a new step in consolidating its role within the Alliance of Sahel States, as Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine chaired a high-level meeting to examine and validate a draft roadmap for the second year of the Confederation.

The meeting was held on February 21, 2026, at the Prime Minister’s office in Niamey and brought together relevant ministers as well as members of Niger’s National Committee of the Alliance of Sahel States. The session focused on reviewing a proposed roadmap initially submitted by Burkina Faso as part of preparations for the bloc’s second year of coordinated action.

The gathering comes ahead of scheduled meetings of senior officials, experts and ministers set to take place in Ouagadougou from February 24 to 26, 2026. Those sessions are expected to refine and consolidate contributions from member states before the final document is presented to the AES College of Heads of State.

According to officials present at the Niamey meeting, the draft roadmap covers key areas central to the confederation’s objectives, including defense cooperation, regional security coordination, diplomatic alignment and development strategies. Ministers and committee members examined the document in detail and proposed amendments intended to reflect Niger’s priorities while ensuring coherence among the three member states — Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Mrs. Bayard Mariama Gamatié, President of the AES National Committee in Niger, stated that the amended version of the roadmap was formally validated at the conclusion of the session. She explained that the objective was to harmonize positions ahead of the forthcoming expert-level and ministerial discussions in Ouagadougou, where a consolidated version will be finalized.

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The Alliance of Sahel States was formed in 2023 by the military-led governments of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, with the aim of strengthening collective defense and political cooperation. In 2024, the partnership evolved into a confederation structure, marking a deeper level of institutional coordination among the three countries.

Since its creation, the AES has emphasized joint security initiatives against armed groups operating in the Sahel region, while also seeking greater economic and diplomatic autonomy. The second-year roadmap is expected to build on initial defense arrangements and outline more structured mechanisms for cooperation in areas such as cross-border security operations, infrastructure development and external relations.

The Niamey meeting reflects Niger’s continued engagement in shaping the direction of the bloc as it moves into its second year. By reviewing and amending the proposed document at the national level, authorities aim to ensure that the country’s strategic interests are clearly reflected before adoption at the confederal level.

Final approval of the roadmap is anticipated after deliberations in Ouagadougou, where experts and ministers from the three member states will work to produce a unified text for endorsement by the AES heads of state.

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