Foreign ministers from the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), made up of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, will travel to Moscow for a two-day visit starting April 3. The regional bloc confirmed the trip on Tuesday, highlighting its importance in AES’s expanding global relations.
During their stay, the ministers will attend the first AES-Russia consultations at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. An AES statement said the talks aim to strengthen bilateral relations, enhance political dialogue, and boost cooperation in diplomacy, economic development, and defense.
A Strategic Shift
The visit marks a key step in implementing AES’s Year 1 Roadmap, a plan guiding the bloc’s strategic goals. With Mali currently chairing the confederation, AES is focusing on deeper regional cooperation and stability.
AES was officially formed in 2024 following a series of military-led takeovers between 2020 and 2023. The bloc was established through a treaty to strengthen political, economic, and security ties among the three West African nations. Recently, AES has moved to redefine its global alliances, including its withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).
Security and Regional Goals
AES has also announced a plan to deploy a joint military force of 5,000 troops to address rising terrorist threats in the Sahel. Other initiatives include a common passport to ease cross-border movement and a web-based television channel to fight misinformation.
The Moscow visit is expected to solidify AES’s foreign policy direction and build stronger international security partnerships beyond its traditional regional ties.