On Monday, the first anniversary of the Liptako-Gourma Charter that established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), civil society organizations from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger officially proclaimed the Confederation of the Peoples of the Alliance of Sahel States (CP-AES) in Bamako, Mali.
"We have made a commitment to combine our efforts in a spirit of brotherhood, mutual solidarity, and friendship for the prosperity and peace of our respective communities," said Mahamane Aichatou Lawali, coordinator of the CP-AES from Niger.
The CP-AES aims to be a bulwark against imperialism and foreign interference, reflecting the desire of the people of the Sahel to take control of their own destiny, local media highlighted.
The new alliance encompasses a territory with a population of nearly 80 million, rich in natural and mineral resources. These "must be exclusively exploited for the benefit of the people," the media reported.