{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Alliance of Sahel States Forges Ahead","description":" Between 2021 and 2023 West Africa saw three popular military coups. Assimi Go\u00efta became the president of Mali in 2021, Ibrahim Traor\u00e9 became the president of Burkina Faso in 2022, and Abdourahamane Tchiani, became the president of Niger in 2023. The three former French colonies expelled French and US military. They withdrew from ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, and confederated, forming the Alliance of Sahel States. In French, that\u2019s the Alliance des \u00c9tats du Sahel (AES). They announced their intention to cooperate on regional security, integration, sovereignty, and economic independence. In January, they announced a common passport, and in February, they raised a common flag. In March, Togo signaled its intent to leave ECOWAS and join the landlocked Alliance, giving it access to the sea. There\u2019s talk of Senegal and other bordering states following suit. Host and producer Ann Garrison spoke to Eugene Puryear, author, journalist and Breakthrough News host, who attended the November 2024 Conference in Solidarity with the Peoples of the Sahel.  This podcast was first published by Pacifica Radio  https:\/\/capitalismraceanddemocracy.org\/2025\/04\/07\/sahel-sovereignty-rises-afl-cios-foreign-arm-defunded-code-pink-calls-out-hands-off-hypocrisy-federal-workers-fight-echoes-patco\/ The podcast discusses the growing alliance between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger\u2014collectively known as the Alliance of the Sahel States (AES)\u2014as they solidify their partnership in defiance of Western influence, particularly from France and ECOWAS. The interview highlights their shared commitment to sovereignty, anti-imperialism, and regional security, including joint efforts against jihadist threats without reliance on foreign military support. Key points include the AES nations' rejection of neocolonial policies, their alignment with alternative partners like Russia (via the Wagner Group), and their push for economic and military self-sufficiency. The conversation also touches on Libya\u2019s potential role in supporting this alliance, given its historical influence in African geopolitics. The interviewees frame the AES as a bold step toward Pan-African unity, challenging traditional power structures while facing internal and external pressures. The discussion suggests that this alliance could reshape West African dynamics, potentially inspiring other nations to resist foreign dominance in favor of regional cooperation. ","author_name":"DARAJA PRESS PODCASTS","author_url":"https:\/\/sites.libsyn.com\/538512","html":"