The Alliance of Sahel States: a model to replicate?

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) brings together Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, three countries led by authorities that came to power through military coups, and which chose to leave ECOWAS to form their own bloc, built notably around closer security cooperation.

The case made by its supporters

Supporters of the AES point to a desire for greater sovereignty, military cooperation they consider more effective against armed groups in the region, and a rejection of what they see as external interference in regional affairs.

The criticisms raised

Critics point to the contested democratic legitimacy of the governments behind the AES, which came to power through unconstitutional means, as well as the diplomatic and economic isolation that leaving ECOWAS can bring for these countries, particularly regarding regional trade and free movement.

Whether the AES constitutes a viable long-term model, or a situational response to a specific security and political crisis, remains an open question, and observers offer differing analyses.