Captain Traoré Leads Condemnation of Mali Attacks, Calls for Sahel Unity

The Confederation of Sahel States known as AES has issued a strong condemnation of the terrorist attacks that struck Mali on April 25, 2026, calling them a coordinated aggression designed to spread terror and destabilise the country. In an official statement released over the weekend, the President of the Confederation, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, expressed the body’s firm rejection of the offensive and reaffirmed the alliance’s unconditional support for Mali’s military government.

The statement noted that the scale of the resources deployed by the attackers and the nature of the targets point to a long standing plan. It went further to suggest the involvement of actors who are hostile to the Sahel’s ongoing sovereignist movement, an apparent reference to foreign powers opposed to the region’s break with traditional Western partners. The Confederation did not name specific states but has previously accused outside forces of backing rebel and jihadist groups.

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The AES praised what it called the professional, courageous and determined response of the Malian Armed Forces, known as FAMa, saying that this riposte had thwarted the attempt to destabilise the country. The statement expressed total, fraternal and unconditional solidarity with the Malian people, the transitional government, and the armed forces. It also offered condolences to the families of the victims and wishes for a swift recovery to those wounded in the fighting.

Reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty, dignity and freedom of the Sahel’s peoples, the Confederation assured that these attacks would not shake the determination of member states to continue their struggle until total liberation is achieved. The statement ended with a call for unity and resilience in the face of threats, underscoring that the April 25 offensive has only hardened the resolve of the three nation alliance formed by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

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