Foreign ministers from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso the three military led states forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) met African Union (AU) Commission President Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on September 22 in New York, signaling a cautious return to dialogue after months of strained ties. The talks, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, came just weeks after Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye was named AU Special Envoy for the Sahel under an Angolan-led mediation effort. The ministers Abdoulaye Diop (Mali), Bakary Yaou Sangaré (Niger), and Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré (Burkina Faso) pressed for AU decisions to reflect the “realities on the ground,” citing ongoing jihadist violence and fragile transitions.
Youssouf acknowledged their grievances, stressing the AU would work to prevent further political isolation of AES members, suspended from AU bodies after recent coups. The mediation, spearheaded by Angolan President João Lourenço, aims to mend ties through dialogue with transitional governments, civil society, and international partners. Ndayishimiye’s role complements that of Mamadou Tangara, the AU’s Special Representative in Bamako.
The meeting was welcomed by observers as an important step toward reconciling AES with the AU and potentially reviving cooperation with ECOWAS, which has also clashed with the Sahel bloc over democratic norms. Analysts note the effort highlights Angola’s emerging role as a continental peace broker, following its recent involvement in mediation between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The push for renewed engagement comes as the Sahel faces escalating insurgent attacks, humanitarian crises, and increasing alignment of the AES with non Western partners, notably Russia.
