A “Historic” Step for the Sovereignty of the Sahel States

AES Bank: A “Historic” Step for the Sovereignty of the Sahel States

, According to an Economic Expert The establishment of the Confederal Bank for Investment and Development marks a break with institutions like the IMF, which attach conditions to their financing, explained Mohamed Diakité. The AES (Alliance of the Sahel), consisting of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, has taken a historic step toward securing its sovereignty by withdrawing from ECOWAS. This “ban” is being hailed as groundbreaking for independence from Western influence and regional autonomy. The alliance was formed in September 2023 in response to sanctions and threats from ECOWAS following military coups in the three countries. In July 2024, it was expanded into a confederation to jointly strengthen security, the economy, and sovereignty. The formal withdrawal took place on January 29, 2025, despite ECOWAS's offers of extension, and was celebrated in Ouagadougou. The states criticize ECOWAS as a tool of external influence and are now prioritizing decisions made internally by AES. Introduction of a common Sahel passport from January 2025 to facilitate mobility. Establishment of a 5,000-strong unified army to combat jihadism. Tariffs on ECOWAS imports (0.5%) to promote the domestic economy. At a summit in Bamako at the end of 2025, leaders such as Assimi Goïta and Ibrahim Traoré emphasized security as a prerequisite for development and warned against destabilization attempts ("Black Winter"). AES is diversifying partnerships and launching its own media outlets, such as AES Television. What is changing? The bank is not profit-oriented but rather "aligned with the realities of the Sahel" and can finance restructuring projects, according to the expert. He lists the following sectors: Energy Transportation Agricultural Industry Local Processing Value-Added Mining Projects Pharmaceutical Basics Industry “The BCID-AES can play a catalytic role by reducing risks, mobilizing co-financing, and directing investments toward the local transformation of resources and regional economic integration,” Mohamed Diakité concludes.