NIAMEYpaybyphonecasino, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Burkina Fasopaybyphonecasino, Mali and Niger have announced the creation of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States during the institution's first summit held here on Saturday, marking a significant step toward establishing an economic-military bloc and moving away from regional and Western countries following a series of coups.

In a joint statement, the leaders -- Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso, Assimi Goita of Mali and Abdourahamane Tchiani of Niger -- praised the successful synergy between the three states in combating terrorism within the alliance area and emphasized their commitment to deeper integration among member states. "Considering our shared goal of an effective fight against terrorism in the Sahel, particularly in the Liptako-Gourma region, we have decided to take a significant step toward greater unity," the statement said.

Located at the borders of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, the Liptako-Gourma region is the epicenter of the security crisis in the broader Sahel region, which began in 2012.

On Sept. 16, 2023, the three countries signed the Liptako-Gourma Charter, establishing the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

The three leaders on Saturday commended the establishment of a unified Sahel states force during a chiefs of staff meeting in Niamey, the capital of Niger, in March. The force's mission is to implement a permanent trilateral plan to combat armed terrorist groups, transnational organized crime and other threats faced by these states.

Moreover, the leaders resolved to equip the confederation with "independent instruments for financing our economic and social policies" and to create a mechanism facilitating the free movement of people, goods and services within the AES space. They announced the creation of an investment bank within the AES and decided to establish a stabilization fund.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger previously announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the creation of the AES. The leaders of the three countries reaffirmed their "commitment to the principles and objectives enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations" and reiterated their dedication to the ideals, principles and objectives of the African Union and Pan-Africanism.

Addressing the summit held on Saturday, Tchiani, president of the National Council for the Protection of the Homeland of Niger, said that the formal approval of the treaty establishing the AES confederation "will fulfill the aspirations of our populations to form a union of states within our Sahelian space, sharing the same challenges, ambitions and ultimately, the same destiny."

"In the current geopolitical context, the AES represents the most effective sub-regional group in the fight against terrorism, especially given ECOWAS's lack of involvement in this struggle," he said.

The ECOWAS, one of the pillar regional blocs in Africa, suspended the three countries after their respective military takeovers, which occurred in July 2023 in Niger, September 2022 in Burkina Faso and August 2021 in Mali.

"As a result, the AES alone allows us to confront terrorist threats in a way that no other regional or international structure has done before," Tchiani said.

The past decade's unrest in the Sahel, a vast semi-arid region of Africa extending from Senegal eastward to Sudan, has undermined security in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and other regional countries. Following a NATO-led military intervention in Libya in 2011 that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi, the region experienced insecurity that resulted in rampant arms trafficking, with armed groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State growing significantly.

According to a report by Mark A. Green, president of the Wilson Center, a Washington D.C.-based think tank, the Sahel accounts for 43 percent of the world's terrorism deaths, more than South Asia and the Middle East and North Africa region combined.

"After the fall of Gaddafi, terrorism began in the Sahel region," said Bella Kamano, a political analyst based in Conakry, Guinea.

"Populations in Niger are complaining about insecurity in their country. Not a week or a month goes by without terrorists taking hostages and committing attacks against people in the villages," Kamano noted, adding that all countries in the Sahel region are suffering the consequences of the Libyan war.

The worsening security situation has contributed to rising anti-Western sentiment in West Africa in recent years. French troops have been gradually pushed out of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso as demanded by the military governments in these countries. Similarly, the United States has withdrawn most of its troops from Niger following Niamey's decision to terminate a military agreement with Washington.■