The summit of heads of state of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has opened in the Malian capital Bamako, amid the unexpected absence of Burkina Faso’s president, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, from the opening session.
No official explanation has been provided for the delay, raising questions about coordination dynamics among the Alliance’s three member states.
The first day featured a full state reception by Mali’s transitional president, General Assimi Goïta, for his Nigerien counterpart, General Abdourahamane Tiani, complete with a red carpet and military band, in a ceremony broadcast live.
Malian state television reported that Captain Traoré’s arrival is expected on Tuesday. The inauguration of the summit’s flagship projects—the Alliance’s television headquarters and the Confederation Bank for Investment and Development—has also been postponed to the same day.
Both projects are central to the AES leaders’ plans to strengthen media and economic sovereignty across the bloc.
