Regarding the question of whether the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) could form a common army, Burkinabe Prime Minister Rimtalba J.E. Ouédraogo stated that while this is "relevant opinion," the AES is a confederation, meaning that "there can only be a joint force."
He stressed that the confederation "is still in the process of being structured," evolving from its initial form as a defense alliance.
"The enlightened vision of the three heads of state made it possible to move to another stage by integrating other aspects such as diplomacy and development with the creation of the confederation", he concluded before the deputies on December 27.
Earlier, the AES announced that their defense and security forces were on high alert due to a terrorist threat.