Senior Officials Review Draft Roadmap for Year Two of ESA Confederation

Ouagadougou, February 24, 2026 - Senior officials responsible for the three pillars of the Confederation of Sahel States (CESA/ESA) began a two-day meeting in the Burkinabe capital on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, to review and finalize the draft roadmap for Year Two of the Confederation.

The draft, proposed by Burkina Faso, which has held the rotating presidency of the ESA since December 23, 2025, aims to consolidate the achievements of Year One and continue building the confederation.

Leadership and Delegations

The opening session was chaired by Bassolma Bazie, President of the National Commission of the AES Confederation and head of the Burkinabe delegation, alongside Bayard Mariama Gamatie, head of the Nigerien delegation, and Ambassador Mahamane Hamadou Maiga, head of the Malian delegation.

Objectives and Vision

Officials emphasized that the roadmap must:

Serve as a consensus-based guide for priority actions

Promote peace, security, and the fight against terrorism

Ensure free movement of people and goods

Support endogenous economic development

Reflect the shared vision of the three Heads of State

The Malian delegation stressed that completing the roadmap successfully is essential for enhancing the well-being of populations across the Confederation.

The Burkinabe delegation underlined that the process requires sacrifice, unity, consultation, and solidarity, noting:

“It is essential to act in unity, coherence, and complementarity because this is a confederation roadmap, and from this perspective, the teams from the three sister countries should come together to determine the direction they are taking.”

Next Steps

The 48-hour preparatory meeting will conclude on February 26, with the results submitted for consideration by ministers responsible for the three pillars of the AES Confederation: Defence-Security, Development, and Diplomacy.

The exercise is expected to provide a clear, actionable compass to guide the future development and cohesion of the Confederation.