African Union, Sahel States Move to Renew Ties After Regional Shift in Power

The African Union (AU) and the foreign ministers of the Sahelian States have held sideline talks to renew strained ties following a series of regional shifts in pro-Western civilian governments to nationalist-driven and citizens-backed transitional governments.

Mahmoud Youssouf, AU Commission Chairperson, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, and his counterparts, Niger’s Bakary Sangare and Burkina Faso’s Karamoko Traoré, held the discussions on the renewal of regional cooperation, particularly on security and terrorism, on Monday on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

According to a joint statement released by the three West African states, all of which were suspended from the continental body following military coups that ousted pro-Western civilian governments in Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou, the meeting “allowed both parties to discuss prospects for cooperation between the African Union and the CSS, after a period marked by misunderstanding and a lack of dialogue and communication.”

During the meeting, the CSS foreign ministers urged the AU Commission to base its decisions on the “realities” of the Sahel region rather than “relying solely on abstract principles.”

While they welcomed the AU’s initiative to send fact-finding missions to their countries to correct the unfounded narratives spread by “people who are not in contact with the governments and immerse themselves in the reality of the CSS countries”, the CSS foreign ministers also maintained that ” it is through this approach that the current assessment of the AES countries, often based on unfounded information, can evolve.”

We must necessarily correct errors of judgment through immersion in our environment, proximity between decision-makers and the field, and move away from the narrative carried by people who are not in contact with us,” declared Karamoko TRAORÉ, adding “With terrorism, all of Africa is concerned, not just the Sahel. We must combat it through a realistic approach. We cannot talk about terrorism without the AES countries; even suspended, we must not talk about us without us.”

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In an attempt to ensure all discussions are understood, the foreign ministers insisted that terrorism persists in their countries “because it is supported by certain powers.”

For context, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have been combating terrorism head-on since their shift from pro-Western civilian governments to nationalist-driven military governments, and have accused France and Ukraine of destabilising attempts and sponsoring rebel groups to manufacture the notion that a military government is no better than the ousted civilian governments.

More recently, in August, Mali foiled a coup attempt by the French government, arrested its spy alongside top generals in Bamako.

In response, the AU Commission chair, Youssouf, acknowledged the ministers’ concerns and pledged to “ensure that any isolation of the AES states is avoided” during his mandate.

About The Author

Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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