Washington is reiterating its commitment to cooperating with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES),
respecting the sovereignty of its members and based on mutual interests.
This was made during a meeting in Washington between senior U.S. officials and the ambassadors of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger who make up the alliance
During Thursday’s meeting the U.S. government said it was keen to work with AES countries.
According to a post by the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs on its Facebook page, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Troy Fitrell met with the diplomatic representatives of the three Sahelian countries accredited to the United States.
The ambassadors of Burkina Faso, Kassoum Coulibaly, Mali, Sekou Berthe, and Niger, Clemence Bere
attended the meeting.
During the meeting, the American officials “reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to working with the Alliance of Sahel States while respecting the sovereignty of its member states and promoting mutual interests,” according to a statement released by the Office of African Affairs.
The meeting comes amid a redefinition of relations between Washington and the three ASS countries, which have intensified their diplomatic efforts since the creation of their confederation in July 2024.
No further details were provided regarding the topics discussed or potential prospects for cooperation in the security, economic, or humanitarian fields.
This publication by the State Department is, however, seen as a sign of openness from Washington towards the three Sahelian states, whose relations with several Western partners have undergone significant changes in recent years.
HO/te/fss/as/APA