Niger: Liptako-Gourma square, new evidence of cooperation between sahelian states
On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Dr. Boubacar Soumana, Minister and Director of the Cabinet of the President of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland, inaugurated the Liptako-Gourma Square, in the presence of Mr. Issaka Adamou Nourou-Dini, Director General of the Niger Urban Modernization Agency (AMV).
Located next to the Presidential Palace, the square features a central monument, a water fountain, illuminated green spaces, benches, a fence, and parking areas. Designed and constructed by local actors, it was fully funded by the national budget.
The Director General of AMV praised this transformation, stating that the agency invested in making the space a functional place with aesthetic, cultural, and social values.
The monument rests on a circular platform symbolizing the dignity and elevation of the countries of the Confederation. Its body, represented by an equilateral triangle, embodies the three founding nations of the Sahel States Alliance (AES): Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali. It is topped with a map of the three countries, supported by hands representing the leadership’s taking charge of the people’s destiny. Surrounding the monument are the flags of the three nations.
The multi-entry fence reflects the AES’s openness to Africa and the world. The fountain represents hope and vitality, while the green spaces and lighting symbolize a prosperous future for the region.
According to the Director General of AMV, this square embodies “the spirit of solidarity, unity, and sovereignty of our three nations”, marking a new era of self-determination.
The leaders of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso rely on this historical heritage to strengthen their cooperation and reaffirm their fraternity within the framework of the AES. The Liptako-Gourma region, a crucible of shared history and culture, remains a symbol of the natural interconnection between these three nations, beyond administrative borders.
