Led by Minister Alousseni Sanou, a high-level delegation from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) approved in Bamako today the foundational charter of the Unified Investment and Development Bank, marking the official start of its operations.
The delegation included Burkina Faso’s Finance Minister Aboubakar Nacanabo and Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine.
According to a statement from Mali’s presidency, the bank aims to become a vital financial instrument for funding structural projects and strengthening economic integration and sovereignty among the three Sahel countries—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The bank will focus on supporting energy, agriculture, regional connectivity, and sovereignty-boosting initiatives, as well as national projects launched by member states.
Nacanabo stated that the institution will enable the implementation of strategic projects that serve the people and advance the path toward sovereignty.
The bank’s authorized capital has already been approved through contributions from the founding states, with additional funding expected from future members.
The next step will involve appointing the bank’s executive management, which will help attract additional financing and expand its investment portfolio.
The establishment of the bank crowns earlier discussions among alliance leaders and is intended to serve as the financial arm of regional integration and a driver of economic sovereignty and infrastructure development in the three countries.
