The military regimes in power in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger ratified at their first summit in the Niger capital Niamey today their alliance within the " confederation" - a decision that is a sign of their break with the rest of the West African bloc, reported France Press, quoted by BTA.
The heads of state of the three countries (military, who came to power in a coup) "decided to take another step towards closer integration. To this end, they adopted the treaty to establish a confederation between, called the Confederation of Sahel States,'' said the final communique of the meeting.
In January, the three countries announced they were leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). According to them, this organization is being used as a tool by France, a former colonial power, for the break with which they took many steps. The creation of a confederation confirms this rift.
"Our peoples have irrevocably turned their backs on ECOWAS," said General Abdurahaman Chiani, head of the military regime in Niger, at the opening of the summit.
Gen. Chiani said this to the leaders of Burkina Faso - Captain Ibrahim Traore - and Mali - Colonel Assimi Goita.
The three, dressed in military uniforms, arrived at the conference center in Niamey at noon for the meeting, which took place under heightened security.
Chiani called on the Sahel Defense Alliance (SADS), created last year by the three countries, to become an "alternative to any artificial regional unity, building a sovereign community of peoples, a community that is far from the control of foreign powers." ;.
Relations between the three countries and ECOWAS deteriorated significantly after the July 26, 2023 coup that brought General Chiani to power.
ECOWAS then imposed heavy economic sanctions on Niger and threatened to intervene with military force to restore ousted president Mohamed Bazum to his post.
In February, the sanctions were lifted, but relations between the two camps remain icy.
A meeting of the heads of state of the ECOWAS countries is planned for tomorrow in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on the agenda of which is also the issue of relations with the ADF.
In March, the ADF countries formed a joint force to combat the jihadists who regularly attack their territories.
Today they expressed a desire to also "pool their resources" in sectors considered strategic, such as agriculture, water, energy and transport. The leaders also said they want local languages to be used more in public and private media in their countries.
/DI/
Source: www.bta.bg