BAMAKO, Mali — In a historic consolidation of military power in the Sahel, the armed forces of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have formally operationalized a unified force aimed at asserting regional sovereignty and bypassing Western-backed security structures. The newly formed United Force of the Alliance of Sahel States (FU-AES) is positioned to secure the volatile tri-border region spanning the Liptako-Gourma area.
At a high-profile ceremony at a Bamako airbase on Saturday, December 20, 2025, Mali’s transitional president, General Assimi Goita, presented the official flag and a fleet of armored vehicles to the FU-AES.
The move marks the Alliance of Sahel States’ transition from a diplomatic pact into a fully functioning, NATO-style military confederation.
Strategic command and force composition
The 5,000-strong multinational force is specifically structured to operate in the Liptako-Gourma region—the epicenter of Sahelian insecurity where Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger converge.
- Leadership: Burkinabe Brigadier-General Daouda Traoré has been appointed the first Commander-in-Chief of the FU-AES.
- Headquarters: While inaugurated in Bamako, the permanent command and intelligence hub will be based in Niamey, Niger.
- Capabilities: FU-AES integrates air support, ground units, and a centralized intelligence network, enabling independent operations without reliance on UN or French logistical support.
A definitive break from ECOWAS
The establishment of FU-AES follows Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger’s withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in early 2025.
The junta leaders have accused ECOWAS of acting as a “proxy for foreign powers,” particularly France, and of imposing sanctions that disproportionately affected civilians rather than military operations.
Also Read: ECOWAS at a crossroads as leaders confront rising insecurity and political instability
“This mission is irreversible,” General Goita declared. “The FU-AES is a strategic multinational response to a threat that respects no borders. We are reclaiming our sovereignty and our security.”
Financial independence: The BCID-AES Bank
In a strategic move to ensure operational autonomy, the Alliance has launched the Confederal Investment and Development Bank (BCID-AES).
- Initial capital: 500 billion CFA francs (~$895 million USD).
- Funding model: Each member state pledges 5% of annual tax revenue, securing financial independence from external donors.
- Purpose: The bank will fund logistics, infrastructure, intelligence, and troop deployment for FU-AES operations.
A new regional power bloc
The launch was attended by defense ministers from the three member states and several international envoys, signaling growing recognition of the FU-AES as a permanent regional security actor.
With auxiliary support from the Russian Africa Corps (formerly Wagner), the force represents a significant realignment in the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), and a challenge to traditional ECOWAS authority.
As the Sahel continues to face threats from jihadist groups, organized crime, and political instability, FU-AES positions the three nations as self-reliant security actors committed to unilateral solutions and regional dominance.
