In a significant move towards regional integration, ministers from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger convened in Ouagadougou to deliberate on the establishment of a confederation.
The gathering marks a pivotal moment as the three nations, currently under military regimes, strive to solidify their alliance and bolster both defense and economic cooperation.
General Kassoum Coulibaly, Burkina’s Defence Minister, emphasized the importance of these discussions in advancing the implementation of crucial frameworks and legal structures for the envisioned confederation. Echoing this sentiment, General Salifou Modi of Niger highlighted the potential for efficient functioning that these procedures would offer, promising benefits for the populace of all three countries.
The proposal for a confederation stems from a broader aspiration to unite the West African neighbors under a federation, a goal supported by the foreign ministers of the three nations during a prior meeting in Bamako. General Abdourahamane Tiani of Niger recently suggested the creation of a common currency as a potential means to overcome what he described as “colonization.”
This development comes shortly after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of which they were founding members. The decision follows their suspension from the regional bloc due to military coups that ousted civilian governments.
Amidst ongoing jihadist violence and political instability since 2020, the new military leadership in these countries has voiced grievances against former colonial power France, accusing it of manipulating ECOWAS. Consequently, French ambassadors and forces have been expelled, with a notable shift towards closer ties with Moscow on both political and military fronts.
Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, Mali’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, expressed optimism regarding the prospect of achieving genuine fraternity free from external influence. General Coulibaly emphasized that the withdrawal from ECOWAS is irreversible, citing the bloc’s deviation from its original purpose of serving the interests of the people.
As these nations navigate their path towards deeper cooperation, the establishment of a confederation signifies a bold step towards regional unity and self-determination.
