Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the leader of Burkina Faso, has been appointed President of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), marking a new phase in the leadership of the regional bloc comprising Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
The appointment was announced at the conclusion of the second session of the College of Heads of State of the AES, held from December 22 to 23, 2025. The summit brought together the three Sahelian leaders to assess progress within the Confederation and adopt new measures aimed at strengthening regional cooperation.
Traoré takes over from Mali’s President Assimi Goïta, who formally handed over the rotating leadership of the Confederation at the close of the meeting. Traoré is expected to lead the AES over the coming year.
The summit also witnessed the inauguration of the Confederal Investment and Development Bank of the AES (BCID-AES), a regional financial institution capitalised at approximately $895 million. The bank is intended to support infrastructure development, productive sectors and economic integration projects across member states.
In addition, leaders announced the launch of AES Television, a regional media network designed to serve as a common communication platform for the Confederation and to promote shared narratives and policy priorities across the Sahel bloc.
Discussions at the summit focused on security cooperation, economic coordination, energy partnerships and institutional consolidation within the AES, as the alliance continues to position itself as a framework for collective action among its member states.
The Confederation of Sahel States was formed by Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to deepen political, economic and security collaboration in the region. The developments announced at the December 2025 summit signal ongoing efforts by the bloc to strengthen regional structures and pursue greater self-reliance.
