Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali push for economic future less dependent on foreign imports: Video
Trade ministers from the Sahel Alliance (AES) have called for urgent economic reforms aimed at strengthening self-reliance and regional integration, as they met in Niamey on Monday, December 15.
The meeting brought together representatives from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, with footage showing the delegations standing for the Nigerien national anthem before delivering their statements. The ministers later posed for a group photograph at the conclusion of the talks.
Niger’s Prime Minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, warned that the region’s continued dependence on imports remained deeply troubling despite its vast natural wealth. He said it was unacceptable that Sahelian countries still rely on foreign supplies for basic items such as needles, matches, footwear and kitchen utensils, as well as everyday consumer goods.
Mali’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Moussa Alassane Diallo, urged closer economic complementarity among AES member states. He argued that the alliance should prioritise intra-regional trade, saying Mali’s gold should benefit Niger and Burkina Faso, Niger’s oil should supply Mali and Burkina Faso, and Burkina Faso’s iron resources should be used to support development across the region.
Burkina Faso’s Minister of Trade, Serge Gnaniodem Poda, said the meeting demonstrated a shared determination to translate the vision of AES leaders into practical outcomes. He stressed the need for a strong national private sector, describing it as dynamic, patriotic, committed and disciplined.
Poda added that the AES offers a rare opportunity to rebuild member economies and establish a genuinely integrated regional market.
The discussions are part of broader efforts to put in place the legal and institutional foundations of the Sahel Alliance, ahead of a Heads of State Conference scheduled to take place later this month.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
