ALBAWABA- Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have officially declared their unification into a confederation named the Union of Sahel States (AES). In this historic move, Colonel Ashmi Goita, the head of Mali's transitional government, will serve as the confederation's president for one year. 

Burkina Faso will host the first parliamentary session of the coalition, and an AES investment bank and stabilization fund will be established to bolster economic stability and growth. 

This unification signifies a commitment to adopting a unified foreign and security policy, guided by African traditions and customs and supported by a common central bank.

 President Ibrahim Traoré expressed the significance of this step, stating, "We have followed a path, and now we continue on our path. Only now will we achieve real independence; the battle has only just begun." This decision marks a pivotal moment in the journey toward African unity and cooperation.

The new union led to the exit of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS, as it is unlikely that the Sahel Confederation can coexist with ECOWAS in the same space. 

The military leaders of the Sahel countries announced this in January 2024, specifically proposing the unification of customs.

However, these three Sahel countries are already members of the ECOWAS bloc. Therefore, forming a new customs union in the Sahel will require the three countries to follow through on their promises to withdraw from the current ECOWAS customs union.

It is important to note that these three countries are part of a union that includes five other French-speaking countries within ECOWAS. Despite its ambitious common market, ECOWAS does not resemble the European Union. 

Unlike the balance of power between France and Germany in Europe, Nigeria, Africa’s economic and population giant, dominates ECOWAS in terms of population and GDP.

Trade between ECOWAS countries, even between Nigeria and the rest of the group, is relatively low. The only exception is Burkina Faso, which has significant trade exchanges with its southern neighbors. Various factors explain the lack of trade and regional development among the countries in the region.