Second Session of the AES College of Heads of State

Bamako, January 4, 2026 - Bamako hosted the second session of the College of Heads of State of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) on December 22 and 23, 2025, marking a decisive stage in the consolidation of the political, security, and economic integration process between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The high-level confederal meeting opened against a backdrop of strong popular mobilization and heightened regional security challenges, underscoring the strategic importance of the AES project for the future of the Sahel.

Arrival of the Heads of State and Popular Mobilization

The confederal sequence began on Monday, December 22, 2025, with the arrival in Bamako of General Abdourahamane Tiani, President of the Republic of Niger. He was received at President Modibo Keïta-Sénou International Airport by General Assimi Goïta, President of Mali’s Transition, Head of State, and President of the AES Confederation.

Following a brief private meeting at the presidential pavilion, the two heads of state traveled together to Koulouba Palace. Along the route, large crowds gathered to welcome them, expressing visible support for the confederation project. On several occasions, the presidents stopped their convoy to greet citizens, creating moments of direct interaction marked by enthusiasm and popular fervor.

On Tuesday, December 23, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, President of Burkina Faso, arrived in Bamako to take part in the proceedings. He was also welcomed at the airport by President Assimi Goïta. After a closed-door meeting at the presidential pavilion, the two leaders visited the headquarters of AES Television, presented as a flagship symbol of informational sovereignty and confederal integration.

Inauguration of the Confederal Bank for Investment and Development

One of the highlights of the session was the official inauguration of the Confederal Bank for Investment and Development (BCID-AES) on December 23, 2025, in Bamako. The ceremony was presided over by President Assimi Goïta, in the presence of President Abdourahamane Tiani and President Ibrahim Traoré, as well as senior political and administrative officials from the three member states.

Designed as a strategic financial instrument, the BCID-AES aims to finance structuring projects, promote sustainable development, strengthen economic sovereignty, and support the transformation of the economies of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The inauguration featured the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by a tour of the facilities, highlighting the confederation’s ambition to build autonomous financial mechanisms.

Official Opening of the College of Heads of State

Later the same day, President Assimi Goïta presided over the official opening ceremony of the second session of the College of Heads of State of the AES at the Bamako International Conference Center (CICB).

The ceremony brought together the Presidents of Burkina Faso and Niger, the Prime Minister of Mali, members of the confederal governments, heads of Malian state institutions, former President Dioncounda Traoré, ambassadors accredited to Mali, the President of the National Transitional Council (CNT), and members of the CNT.

Strong Political Messages and Strategic Orientations

In his address, President Ibrahim Traoré praised the mobilization and resilience of Sahelian populations in the face of external pressures and security threats. He called for vigilance and unity to protect the gains of independence and sovereignty, warning against what he described as a “black winter”-a destabilization agenda targeting West Africa and the Sahel.

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 leadership of the Confederation, particularly the establishment of the Unified Force, strengthened confederal diplomatic coordination, and the operationalization of the Confederation’s Investment Bank.

In his keynote address, President Assimi Goïta reviewed his presidency of the AES, structured around three core pillars: defense and security, diplomacy, and development. He highlighted the reinforcement of the AES Unified Forces, as well as the growing international visibility and recognition of the Confederation.

The Malian head of state also emphasized major confederal projects, including the Confederal Investment Bank, the Confederal Purchasing Center currently under construction, and the launch of AES Television, described as a strategic tool to ensure information sovereignty.

Looking ahead, President Goïta outlined ambitious integration projects under consideration, such as the creation of a confederal airline, the construction of a trans-Sahelian highway, and the establishment of an inter-confederal railway network, all aimed at strengthening connectivity, economic integration, and regional solidarity.

Toward a Sovereign and Integrated Sahel

At the conclusion of the opening ceremony, the three heads of state reaffirmed their shared commitment to building a sovereign, united, and prosperous Sahel, capable of responding collectively to security challenges and advancing endogenous development models rooted in cooperation and mutual support.

The second session of the AES College of Heads of State thus confirmed Bamako’s central role in the confederal dynamic and marked a new phase in the institutional consolidation of the Confederation of Sahel States.