Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso was appointed chair of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) at the end of the two-day summit in Bamako, where he called for stepped-up, large-scale operations against extremist groups and pledged continuity in regional defence and development initiatives.
At a summit held in Bamako, Mali, on 22–24 December, the heads of state of the AES formally handed the rotating chairmanship from Mali’s transitional leader, General Assimi Goïta, to Burkina Faso’s transitional president, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, with Traoré announcing a priority on large-scale security operations and collaboration on development projects across the Sahel to tackle terrorism and strengthen the alliance’s institutions.
Summit decisions and handover of the chairmanship
The AES summit concluded with a formal transfer of the chair on 23 December, naming Captain Ibrahim Traoré as the grouping’s new chair for a one-year term, a decision reflected in official communiqués and regional reporting on the meeting held in Bamako, Mali. According to reporting by APAnews, Traoré succeeded Mali’s General Assimi Goïta as the AES rotating chair, a routine transfer in the alliance’s leadership rotation.APAnews reported that Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso is the new chair of the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES) after succeeding Mali’s General Assimi Goïta.APAnews reported that Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso is the new chair of the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES) after succeeding Mali’s General Assimi Goïta.
As reported by Panapress for PAN Africa News Agency, the appointment was confirmed at the close of the second session of the inter-governmental summit in Bamako, which assembled the AES leaders to review security and integration measures.Panapress reported that the president of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has been appointed current president of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States, replacing the transitional president of Mali, General Assimi Goïta, at the end of the second session of the inter-governmental held on Tuesday in Bamako.
Traoré’s security priorities and public statements
In his inaugural remarks as chair, Traoré emphasised the need for “large-scale” operations against extremist groups operating in the Sahel, framing such action as central to the alliance’s mandate of collective defence and regional stability, a position echoed in region-focused reporting summarising his address.WADR reported that at the close of the summit, Burkina Faso’s Transitional President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, was appointed chair of the AES on a rotating basis and signalled priorities including stepped-up operations against extremists.WADR reported that at the close of the summit, Burkina Faso’s Transitional President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, was appointed chair of the AES on a rotating basis and signalled priorities including stepped-up operations against extremists.
As reported by PANA for Panapress, Traoré praised the outgoing chair, General Assimi Goïta, for what he described as “far-sighted leadership”, and pledged continuity in existing initiatives — signalling that the AES will maintain its current security cooperation while advancing new operational plans.Panapress reported that in his inaugural address, Ibrahim Traoré praised the Malian leader’s “far-sighted leadership” and his “commitment to the ideals of the Confederation”.
Operational and institutional measures agreed
Delegates at the Bamako summit reviewed both military cooperation and institutional development measures, including the establishment and inauguration of an AES Investment and Development Bank (BCID) and the launch of a joint AES television channel, initiatives highlighted in summit communiqués and secondary reporting as part of broader efforts to finance cooperative projects and build public communications capacity.Afrinz reported that the heads of state paid particular attention to the establishment of the AES Investment and Development Bank (BCID), intended to provide sustainable financing for joint projects and development programmes of the Alliance, and that the presidents of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger ceremonially launched a joint television channel of the Confederation.Afrinz reported that the heads of state paid particular attention to the establishment of the AES Investment and Development Bank (BCID), intended to provide sustainable financing for joint projects and development programmes of the Alliance, and that the presidents of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger ceremonially launched a joint television channel of the Confederation.
As reported by African Initiative, the AES leaders also reviewed battlefield cooperation and recorded progress in the fight against terrorism while agreeing to continue and deepen military co-operation across member states.African Initiative reported that the AES leaders noted progress in the fight against terrorism and agreed to continue military co-operation.
Context and reactions from member states
The Alliance of Sahel States was created in 2023 by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger as a regional defence pact aimed at coordinating security responses to jihadist violence and asserting greater regional autonomy in security matters; the three countries subsequently announced withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024, citing dissatisfaction with the West African bloc’s handling of their security crises, a background noted in reporting on the AES and the Bamako summit.Afrinz reported that the Alliance of Sahel States was established in 2023 to ensure collective defence and that on 28 January 2024 the “Sahelian trio” announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS, stating the organisation had failed to assist them in their fight against terrorism and to ensure the security of their territories.
Reporting by African Initiative for local and regional coverage states that the summit agenda reflected both immediate operational concerns and longer-term institutional aims — notably the development bank and media channel — designed to underpin the AES’s political and economic integration.African Initiative reported that the summit emphasised continuity in existing initiatives and outlined priority areas that will form the basis of a development roadmap.
Regional security dynamics and international implications
The AES’s focus on expanded military action comes amid persistent insecurity across the Sahel, where extremist groups have carried out attacks against state and civilian targets for years; regional leaders maintain that coordinated, large-scale operations are essential to regain territorial control and protect critical infrastructure, a view consistently reported by the regional press and specialist outlets.WADR and Afrinz reported that summit participants highlighted the need for continued military cooperation and progress in the fight against terrorism, underlining the AES’s security-centred agenda.
As reported by APAnews, the appointment of Traoré and the summit’s outcomes are likely to shape AES engagement with external partners and its approach to financing and operational logistics, particularly through the newly inaugurated BCID, which was described in official communiqués as a means to provide sustainable financing for joint projects and development programmes.APANews reported that the BCID and related institutional steps are intended to provide sustainable financing for AES projects.
Next steps and implementation commitments
Summit communiqués and regional reporting indicate the AES will move forward with implementing the development bank and operational plans agreed in Bamako, while Traoré’s chairmanship will prioritise coordinated, large-scale military operations and continued institutional consolidation; specific details of planned operations, timelines, troop contributions or external support were not published in the available reporting and will require further official disclosure and follow-up coverage.Afrinz reported on the prioritisation of the BCID and military cooperation but did not detail troop-level commitments or operational timetables.
Reporting by APAnews, Panapress and regional outlets indicates that Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s appointment marks a continuation of the AES’s security-first agenda while signalling increased emphasis on creating institutional instruments — such as the BCID and a joint TV channel — to support the alliance’s political and development objectives.
