The inaugural session of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) Parliament officially opened on Monday in Niamey, Niger, marking a significant step with the installation of 45 confederal deputies representing Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The ceremony, held at the esteemed Mahatma Gandhi Conference Centre, was presided over by Ousmane Bougouma, who serves as the President of the Legislative Assembly of the People of Burkina Faso and acted as the president for this foundational parliamentary session.
During the event, Burkinabè President Ibrahim Traoré, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the Confederation of Sahel States, issued a clear call to the assembled parliamentarians. He urged them to prioritize the overarching collective interest of the Confederation above any narrow partisan agendas or specific national considerations.
The confederal Parliament is composed of 45 deputies, with each member country contributing 15 representatives. The proceedings saw the presence of Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, who attended on behalf of the Nigerien president, alongside various high-ranking officials from the parliamentary institutions of the three participating nations.
Delegates from the Chadian and Togolese parliaments were also present, participating as distinguished guests. This initial session, scheduled to run from August 24 to 29 in Niamey, is designed to lay robust groundwork for enhanced parliamentary collaboration and solidarity among the three AES member states.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger formally established the Confederation of Sahel States in July 2024. This formation followed their joint announcement in January of the same year to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Confederation’s fundamental aim is to fortify cooperation among the three nations, particularly focusing on critical areas such as defense, security, and sustainable development across the region.
