AES Summit in Mali

AES Summit

: General Assimi Goita honors his counterparts at the state banquet. The AES Summit refers to the summit of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a union of states comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. These militarily strong nations recently held their second summit in Bamako, Mali, to strengthen regional autonomy and cooperation. The heads of state and government met on December 22 and 23, 2025, to discuss security, development, and reducing dependence on ECOWAS. Following their withdrawal from ECOWAS, the meeting called for strengthening joint military and economic efforts against jihadist threats. The AES was founded in September 2023 as the Sahel Alliance and formalized as a union of states in July 2024 to counter Western influence and promote self-reliance. High-level official meetings, such as the one held in December 2025, pave the way for deeper integration in the areas of defense and resources. The main objectives are: - Strengthening mutual defense against terrorism and insurrections. - Promoting economic relations, including joint currency plans. - Enhancing sovereignty vis-à-vis external blocs such as ECOWAS and former colonial powers. Official delegations from Niger and Burkina Faso also participated in the event. In the evening, participants were entertained with music and performances that, according to the Malian presidential office, "symbolized the richness and vibrancy of Mandingue culture." Mandingue culture, also known as Mandinka or Malinke culture, originated in West Africa and traces its roots back to the 13th-century Mali Empire, founded by Soundiata Keïta. It encompasses ethnic groups such as the Malinké, Bambara, and Dioulas and is widespread in countries like Mali, Guinea, Senegal, Gambia, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast. In this society, which is based on oral tradition, griots (djélis) play a central role as keepers of history, music, and genealogy. https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/gipfel-aegypten-eu-105.html https://www.africanews.com/2025/12/23/mali-niger-and-burkina-faso-leaders-meet-in-bamako-for-alliance-of-sahel-states-summit/