Forging Economic Sovereignty: How the AES Confederation is Building an Integrated Sahelian Market
The third meeting of the Ministers in charge of Trade and the Private Sector of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) concluded in Niamey on December 15, 2025, marking a pivotal moment in the bloc’s journey toward economic integration. Held under the theme ‘What reforms for a private sector in harmony with the AES vision’, the summit brought together key stakeholders from Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali with a unified goal: to move beyond rhetoric and lay the practical groundwork for a truly integrated confederal market.
The Core Challenge: From Import Dependence to Productive Sovereignty
In a powerful opening address, Niger’s Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, framed the existential challenge facing the region. He issued a direct challenge to attendees, urging them to examine their own clothing and footwear. “The answer is clear and obvious: we are net importing countries,” he stated, highlighting a critical paradox. Despite abundant natural resources—from Niger’s oil and uranium to Mali’s gold and cotton—the AES nations remain heavily reliant on imported finished goods, which drains capital and stifles local job creation.
This diagnosis goes to the heart of economic sovereignty. The Prime Minister argued that trade and industry are not merely sectors but the foundational pillars for job creation and lasting stability. The call was for a shift from a trading mindset to a productive and transformative one, where the private sector becomes the engine of domestic value addition.
Beyond Slogans: The Concrete Meaning of Economic Patriotism
The conference moved to define economic patriotism in actionable terms. It was presented not as protectionism, but as a strategic imperative for development:
- Investment in Strategic Sectors: The private sector is called to lead in building infrastructure for agriculture, energy, transport, mining, agribusiness, and tourism.
- Import Substitution: Creating local factories to produce goods that are currently imported, thereby retaining wealth within the confederation.
- Job Creation & Value Chains: Establishing farms that feed the population and factories that provide decent employment, thereby building interconnected regional value chains.
To enable this, the three AES Heads of State have committed to implementing measures that facilitate private investment, signaling a top-down political will to create a conducive business environment.
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A Vision for Integration: Shared Value Chains and Regional Synergy
The ministers from Burkina Faso and Mali outlined a compelling vision of practical interdependence, moving beyond theoretical frameworks. Their proposals envision the AES as a single, synergistic economic space:
Practical Examples of Integrated Value Chains:
- Agriculture & Textiles: Mali’s cotton could be processed in Burkina Faso’s textile mills (using Faso Danfani cloth) to garment factories in Niger, dressing the entire region.
- Mining & Energy: Burkina Faso’s iron ore could support construction in Mali and Niger, while Niger’s oil could help power industries in Burkina and Mali.
- Food Security: Niger’s cowpeas (a drought-resistant staple) could bolster food security in Burkina Faso and Mali, creating a resilient regional food basin.
This requires concrete steps: establishing integrated industrial units, developing harmonized industrial standards, and creating special economic zones that operate under a common, transparent regulatory framework. The goal is to transform borders from barriers into bridges for the smooth circulation of goods, capital, and expertise.
The Path Forward: Building a Market of Innovation and Stability
The Niamey meeting represents a significant shift in the Sahel’s economic narrative. The focus is now on creating an AES brand—recognized not just for its security cooperation but as a space for economic innovation and industrial transformation. Success hinges on several factors:
- Public-Private Alignment: Continuous dialogue to ensure government reforms directly address private sector bottlenecks.
- Infrastructure Development: Prioritizing cross-border transport and energy links to physically unite the market.
- Capacity Building: Fostering local expertise and know-how to manage and grow these new integrated industries.
By rebuilding their economies from the ground up through shared value chains and a commitment to productive investment, the AES confederation aims to turn its collective wealth into shared prosperity, creating a stable, self-reliant, and integrated market in the heart of the Sahel.
Fatiyatou Inoussa (ONEP)