One year after leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the three nations comprising the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) celebrated their unity.
In Ouagadougou, a flag-raising ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, featuring the flags of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and the AES.
In addition, a demonstration was held at Nation Square in Ouagadougou, organized by the National Coordination of Civic Vigilance Associations. Prime Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo was among those present.
Participants waved effigies of the Sahel States Alliance leaders and carried signs with slogans like "Down with the rotten ECOWAS, long live the AES!" The crowd also joined in singing the national anthem, the Ditanye.
Similar celebrations unfolded in Niamey, attended by members of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland. Thousands of residents took to the streets of the Nigerien capital to demonstrate their support for the country's departure from ECOWAS. As part of the demonstration, participants symbolically "buried" an effigy draped in a shroud with the organization's logo.
According to a Sputnik correspondent at the site, some demonstrators carried Russian flags.