January 30, 2025
Nicholas Mwangi, People's Dispatch.
Organize!
Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Burkina Faso, Decolonization, ECOWAS, Ibrahim Traore, Mali, Niger, Pan Africanism, Regionalism, Sovereignty
Just a year ago, on January 28, 2024, the military leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger publicly declared their intent to withdraw from the regional economic bloc. This announcement was a historic point in the Sahel’s political shift, as the three countries continue to push for sovereignty, regional security, and economic autonomy. The withdrawal took effect on January 29, 2025, as confirmed by ECOWAS.
On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, the streets of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, came alive with celebration as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) marked the first anniversary of their historic decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).