AES : What will follow, after the definitive exit of three Sahel countries from ECOWAS ?

It is now clear and confirmed. The countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), namely Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, have definitively left the West African Economic Community (ECOWAS), as announced on Sunday, January 28. There is no room for negotiation for a possible return to the organization.

This was indicated by the Burkinabé transitional president, Captain Ibrahim TRAORE, in a televised interview. Measures are being taken within the AES space to address the various consequences that will result from this decision. This irreversible decision has been applauded by many conscious Africans who are passionate about freedom for the continent.

This bold and surprising move by the authorities of the AES countries is not the first since the arrival of military regimes in power. It certainly won’t be the last either. These pan-African leaders are determined to break away from anything that keeps their countries, like many other African nations, in servitude and extreme poverty.

According to President Ibrahim TRAORE, when asked about whether AES will challenge the colonial currency, the CFA franc (FCFA), and create its own currency, he chose to keep the suspense. Presumably, to surprise the world, as is the case with all their decisions related to international relations and the sovereignty of their countries.

However, their ambition to break all ties of slavery, neocolonialism, and imperialism provides hope to all Africans who have been wishing for years to break free from the FCFA, a currency imposed by France on its former colonies, and which nowadays constitutes a real obstacle to their economic development.

Sadia Nyaoré