On February 15, ministers from the three countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger met in the capital Ouagadougou of Burkina Faso to discuss the formation of a new alliance.
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| Ministers from three West African countries met in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou on February 15. (Source: L'opinion) |
The talks in Ouagadougou are an opportunity to pursue the implementation of “instruments, mechanisms and procedures” as well as “legal structures for the alliance,” Burkina Faso Defense Minister Kassoum Coulibaly said, AFP news agency reported.
According to his Niger counterpart Salifou Modi, this procedure will "allow our allies and alliances to operate effectively and bring great joy" to the people of the three countries.
At a meeting in December 2023 in Mali's capital Bamako, the three countries' foreign ministers supported the formation of a union as part of a long-term goal of uniting their West African neighbors in a federation.
Earlier in September 2023, the military governments of the three countries signed a defense and economic pact, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
On February 11, the head of Niger's military government, Abdourahamane Tiani, said that creating a common currency with Burkina Faso and Mali could be a way out of dependence.
The latest meeting comes just weeks after Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
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