Mali presents AES as the culmination of its pan-African policy

Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop presented the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) as the result of five years of diplomatic action, during a public conference in Bamako on July 15, 2026. The AES, comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, is based on three pillars: governance, sustainable development, and national ownership. Achievements such as a biometric passport and admission to the Intergovernmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa were highlighted. The AES, born from a defense pact in September 2023, became a confederation in July 2024.