Second Session of ESA Heads of State Opens in Bamako

Bamako, December 23, 2025 - The second session of the College of Heads of State of the Confederation of Sahel States (ESA) officially opened on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the Bamako International Conference Center (CICB), placing Mali’s capital at the center of efforts to consolidate the young confederation. The opening ceremony was presided over by General Assimi Goïta, President of Mali’s Transition and current President of the ESA, in the presence of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, President of Burkina Faso, and General Abdourahamane Tiani, President of Niger, underscoring the unity and shared political commitment of the three member states. The high-level gathering brought together the Prime Minister of Mali, members of the confederal governments, heads of Malian state institutions, former President Dioncounda Traoré, ambassadors accredited to Mali, as well as the President and members of the National Transitional Council (CNT). In his address, President Ibrahim Traoré praised the resilience and mobilization of Sahelian peoples in the face of what he described as persistent external threats. He called for heightened vigilance and solidarity to safeguard sovereignty gains, warning against a broader regional destabilization project he referred to as a looming “black winter.” For his part, President Abdourahamane Tiani recalled that the creation of the Confederation of Sahel States on July 6, 2024, in Niamey, marked a historic turning point for the region. He welcomed the progress achieved under Mali’s presidency, citing the establishment of the ESA Unified Force, strengthened confederal diplomatic coordination, and the creation of the Confederation’s Investment Bank. In his opening speech, President Assimi Goïta reviewed the key achievements of his presidency, structured around three pillars: defense and security, diplomacy, and development. He highlighted the reinforcement of the Unified Force and the growing international recognition of the Confederation. Goïta also emphasized major ongoing and upcoming projects, including the ESA Investment Bank, the Confederal Central Purchasing Office (currently under construction), and the official launch of AES Television, presented as a strategic tool for information sovereignty. Additional projects under discussion include the creation of a confederal airline, a trans-Saharan highway, and an inter-confederation railway, aimed at deepening integration and connectivity. Following the session’s deliberations, the Heads of State officially inaugurated the Confederal Investment and Development Bank (BCID-ESA), a key financial institution designed to support strategic investments, strengthen economic sovereignty, and promote sustainable development across the Confederation. The ceremony included a ribbon-cutting and a tour of the facilities in the presence of senior officials from the three countries. On the sidelines of the summit, President Ibrahim Traoré was welcomed in Bamako by President Assimi Goïta at Modibo Keïta-Sénou International Airport. The two leaders held a closed-door meeting before jointly visiting the headquarters of AES Television, symbolizing the Confederation’s drive toward sovereignty, integration, and coordinated communication.