Mali Hosts Inaugural CSS Games, Welcomes Over 500 Athletes from Member States

The President of Mali, Colonel Assimi Goïta, welcomed the ambassadors of the inaugural Sahel States Games at the Koulouba Palace on July 3. The high-level meeting was attended by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Abdul Kassim Ibrahim Fomba.

With the Games held in Mali from June 21 to 28, 2025, over 500 athletes from countries in the Sahel Alliance competed in a celebration of strength, unity, and talent. The next edition will be hosted by Burkina Faso in 2026.

The three celebrated African sports figures were appointed as ambassadors for the Games: Daba Modibo Ké of Mali, a two-time world taekwondo champion. Sheikh Ahmed Al-Hassan Sanou, better known as Iron Biby from Burkina Faso, a six-time Strongman World Champion and Log Lift record holder. Abdulrazak Issoufou Alfaga of Niger, Olympic silver medalist and taekwondo world champion.

President Goïta emphasised the strategic role of youth in shaping Mali’s future, stating that “the future of the country is directly linked to its youth and their ability to face the challenges of life and time.”

The AGS Games are part of broader efforts by Sahel Alliance nations to promote unity, peace, and development through sports, particularly amid the region’s complex socio-political challenges.

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