Burkina Faso’s transitional President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has accused foreign powers of actively working to fracture the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—a regional bloc uniting Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—by attempting to persuade one member to defect for their own strategic interests. Speaking in Ouagadougou on Monday during the ceremonial debut of the AES anthem “Sahel Benkan” (“The Good Understanding of the Sahel”), Traoré issued a stern warning: “These imperialists approach us daily, trying to convince one of us to betray the others,” he said, denouncing the tactics as deliberate efforts to undermine regional solidarity and preserve external dominance.
The AES, formed in 2023 following a wave of military coups in the three member states, represents a shift away from traditional Western alliances. Since its inception, the bloc has adopted a more assertive posture in reclaiming sovereignty and rejecting what it sees as neocolonial interference, particularly from France. Captain Traoré emphasized that Africa’s long-term stability depends on regional unity. “Achieving African unity is hard, but it’s the only path to true independence,” he said, calling on Sahelians to remain vigilant and resist division. “They will keep fighting us, but we will come out stronger.”
He also highlighted the region’s untapped potential, asserting, “The Sahel is rich—immensely rich. It will not remain poor. We will continue to build a secure, resilient, and prosperous Sahel.” The speech reinforces a growing sentiment across the AES countries, which have been strengthening political and security cooperation in defiance of external pressures. All three governments have accused Western powers, particularly France, of attempting to destabilize the alliance through economic, diplomatic, and covert means.
