New York, United Nations – Presenting a united front, the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) – comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – presented a unified and sovereign position to the United Nations Security Council on November 18, 2025. At a meeting focused on peacebuilding in West Africa, Ambassador Issa Konfourou, Permanent Representative of Mali, was the spokesperson for the Sahel bloc.

🤝 The 3D Federalism of the AES: Defense, Development, Diplomacy

The Malian diplomat first presented the AES's diagnosis of the security crisis that has persisted for over a decade. He emphasized that the Armed Terrorist Groups (GAT) , which according to the AES benefit from the support of external actors, indiscriminately target civilians, essential social services (schools, health) and vital infrastructure.

A key point of the speech was the denunciation of "economic terrorism," a growing tactic used by armed terrorist groups (ATGs) to target infrastructure and commercial activity in order to weaken states. Faced with this evolving threat, ESA leaders strengthened tripartite cooperation centered on three pillars (3D): Defense, Development, and Diplomacy.

🛡️ Essential and Sovereign Military Cooperation

On the security front, Ambassador Konfourou highlighted the unprecedented military coordination between the three countries, stating that the "confederal forces are fighting criminal and obscurantist organizations jointly on a daily basis."

The ESA is open to collaboration with all regional and international partners, but sets one non-negotiable condition: full respect for the sovereignty of member countries and their strategic and political choices. The Malian representative emphasized that this cooperation must in no way lead to disengagement by partners.

1. Combating the financing of armed groups: The AES stressed the urgency of strengthening the fight against the financing of armed groups, targeting in particular the payment of ransoms, which directly feeds these organizations.
2. Adapting the mechanisms: The ambassador used the example of MINUSMA in Mali, whose rules of engagement no longer corresponded to local security needs, to call on the international community to adapt its interventions to the realities on the ground, in order to avoid ineffectiveness.

📰 Media Criticism and a Call for a New Method of Cooperation

Ambassador Konfourou expressed regret over the failure of previous efforts, often undermined by a lack of coherence , disrespect for States or "external pressures, sanctions deemed unfair" .

He advocated for a new method of collaboration, based on a shared understanding of the threat and an essential climate of trust . The ESA also calls for an active role for the Security Council and UN structures to facilitate intelligence sharing, joint operations, and policy harmonization.

1. Denunciation of "media terrorism": A significant part of the intervention targeted the international press, accused of disseminating "partial or militant" analyses and relaying a biased image of the Sahelian states, or even the communication of armed groups.

🚨 Humanitarian Emergency and Determination

The AES reiterated the gravity of the humanitarian situation in the Sahel, marked by significant assistance needs for refugees and internally displaced persons. The lack of international funding, which covers only a small portion of these needs, was highlighted as an additional burden on the population.

In conclusion, the ambassador reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to pursue their security efforts and joint initiatives. The AES intends to maintain an open dialogue with all partners, provided that it is conducted within a framework of transparency and mutual respect to ensure lasting stability in the region.