The Alliance of the Sahel States (AES), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the three breakaway ECOWAS countries are now on high alert.
- The Alliance of the Sahel States (AES) consisting of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, is on high alert due to tension with ECOWAS.
- Recent developments, including accusations of collaboration with foreign powers and an extended exit period, have intensified the tension.
- AES denounced the extension of the exit period, claiming it compromises their sovereignty.
Tensions between the AES and ECOWAS have been prevalent for most of the year.
However, a few recent developments may have intensified said tension as members of the AES have now put their security forces on high alert.
A few days back, the Niger, accused Nigeria of collaborating with foreign powers to destabilize its country.
This coupled with the fact that ECOWAS decided to extend the exit of the AES member countries by six months heightened friction even more.
The AES vehemently denounced the extension, tagging it as a ploy to compromise its sovereignty.
Amid rising tensions, the College of Heads of State of the AES noted “with regret”, in a press release, “destabilization maneuvers […] regularly initiated by a handful of heads of state who impose their will and agendas on the rest of the organization.”
The AES pointed out efforts to restructure terrorist organizations in the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, and several border regions, as seen on Sputnik.
They claim that foreign governments provide these terrorists with logistical and financial support.
The area is designated as “a single theater of military operations,” and security and defense personnel are now on high alert.
The three-state regional group has also called on its populations to “redouble their vigilance” and to “reject proposals for enrollment in terrorist groups.”
ECOWAS vs the AES
The three West African countries that make up the AES sharply exited ECOWAS in January of this year, citing the organization’s alleged lack of support for their efforts to combat terrorism, and its subservience to former colonial power France.
The three countries agreed that they no longer want to be a member of the West African Bloc and have deposed past administrations through coups.
Their resignation from ECOWAS elicited an instant response from the organization, which stated that it would take the appropriate procedures to return the countries to their original bloc, including imposing economic sanctions on such states.
However, in December, the Alliance of Sahel States officially received approval from ECOWAS confirming their withdrawal from ECOWAS.
The announcement was made by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Alieu Touray, on the 15 of December during the 66th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government in Abuja.
Touray stated that the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger would take effect between January 29, 2025, and July 29, 2025, allowing for six months for further negotiations.
