Niger–Mali (AES): Security and Economic Coordination Moves Forward


Executive Summary

On October 2, 2025, Niger’s presidency announced General Abdourahamane Tiani’s working visit to Bamako. The discussions with Malian leadership focused on defence cooperation, sovereignty consolidation, and joint economic initiatives under the framework of the Alliance/Confederation of Sahel States (AES). This visit underscores the bloc’s growing cohesion in both military and economic domains amid continued estrangement from ECOWAS and Western partners.

Key Developments

• High-Level Meeting: Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani met Malian counterparts in Bamako, reaffirming AES priorities of sovereignty and self-reliance.
• Defence Coordination: Leaders highlighted closer joint military planning and security coordination across shared border zones.
• Economic Integration: Talks included harmonization of trade policies, infrastructure linkages, and alignment of economic sovereignty measures (e.g., currency and energy).
• Symbolic Unity: The visit was framed as evidence of solidarity among AES states (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso) and their shared trajectory away from ECOWAS frameworks.

Strategic Implications

1. Security and Counterinsurgency

• Enhanced AES defence coordination signals further integration of joint operations against jihadist insurgencies in the Sahel.
• Potential restructuring of military command mechanisms could shift the balance of counterinsurgency strategies away from ECOWAS or Western-supported models.

2. Economic Policy and Trade Routes

• AES alignment on trade and economic sovereignty could accelerate divergence from ECOWAS rules.
• Cross-border economic integration may prioritize internal AES corridors and alternative partnerships (notably with Russia and emerging non-Western allies).

3. Regional Diplomacy

• The visit reinforces the AES identity as a bloc distinct from ECOWAS, complicating regional mediation.
• Neighbouring states may face heightened pressure to choose between ECOWAS frameworks and AES-oriented initiatives.

4. Domestic Messaging

• Publicizing the visit strengthens domestic legitimacy for Niger’s junta by projecting active regional leadership.
• For Mali, the visit highlights sustained regional solidarity after years of international criticism.

African Security Analysis (ASA) Assessment

The Niger–Mali engagement consolidates the AES’s trajectory toward deeper security and economic integration outside ECOWAS frameworks. While this strengthens internal coordination, it heightens the risk of further regional fragmentation.

• For Regional Security: Expect more joint AES-led counterinsurgency efforts, potentially reducing reliance on external partners but also risking coordination gaps with ECOWAS-aligned neighbours.
• For Trade and Economics: Moves toward AES-exclusive frameworks could reshape trade flows, disrupt ECOWAS market integration, and increase reliance on alternative partners such as Russia.
• For External Stakeholders: International actors should anticipate growing AES resistance to Western diplomatic pressure, complicating efforts to re-engage militarily or economically.

The Bamako visit is a clear signal of AES momentum — prioritizing sovereignty, integrated defence, and economic self-reliance. This trajectory strengthens bloc solidarity but deepens the institutional divide with ECOWAS, altering the strategic map of West Africa.