AES College of Heads of State Adopts Motion of Support Amid Terrorism and Sovereignty

Bamako, December 23, 2025 - The College of Heads of State of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) has adopted a motion of support reaffirming its unity and determination in the face of persistent security threats and what it describes as external attempts to undermine the sovereignty of the Sahelian bloc.

Meeting in Bamako on the margins of the second session of the College of Heads of State, the leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger expressed deep concern over the continuation of multifaceted terrorist acts targeting the Confederation since its establishment. According to the motion, these attacks are aimed at weakening a sovereign political project founded on solidarity, collective security, and endogenous development for the peoples of the Sahel.

Condemnation of Terrorism and External Support

In a strongly worded statement, the College of Heads of State denounced what it described as a dangerous escalation marked by the open involvement and support of foreign states accused of sponsoring destabilization efforts. The leaders stated that such actions have crossed an “unacceptable threshold of indignity,” threatening not only individual member states but the Confederation as a whole.

The AES leadership condemned in the strongest terms all acts of subversion directed against the Republic of Mali, emphasizing that these attacks constitute an assault on the collective security and political cohesion of the entire Confederation of Sahel States.

Support for Niger in Uranium Dispute

The motion also addressed economic and legal challenges facing member states, particularly Niger, which the College says is being subjected to judicial harassment by the French company ORANO. According to the statement, this legal action is linked to Niger’s sovereign management of its uranium resources.

The AES Heads of State described this dispute as an attempt to instrumentalize judicial mechanisms in order to maintain control over strategic mineral resources. They characterized such practices as outdated forms of economic domination, incompatible with the principles of sovereignty and self-determination defended by the Confederation.

Reaffirmation of Sovereignty and Collective Resolve

In response to these security, political, and economic pressures, the College of Heads of State reaffirmed its total and unwavering support for the peoples of the Sahel. The leaders praised their resilience, dignity, and courage in the face of terrorism, external pressure, and economic challenges.

The motion reiterated the Confederation’s firm determination to defeat terrorism, strengthen collective defense mechanisms, and fully exercise sovereign control over natural resources, ensuring that they are managed exclusively in the interest of Sahelian populations.

Call for Unity and International Solidarity

Concluding the motion, the College of Heads of State expressed gratitude to peoples and nations around the world that have shown solidarity with the Sahel. The leaders also congratulated the citizens of the AES member states for their steadfastness in the face of adversity.

Finally, the motion called on Sahelian populations to further strengthen their commitment, mobilization, and cohesion, stressing that unity remains essential to confronting any threat to the sovereignty, stability, and future of the Confederation of Sahel States.

The adoption of this motion underscores the AES’s intention to present a united political front, combining security, economic sovereignty, and popular resilience as pillars of its long-term vision for the Sahel.