ROADS, RAILS & PLANES FOR AES

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have put the necessary infrastructure in place to forge greater unity in Africa’s Sahel region.

Between 14-16 January 2025, ministers from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) member countries met in Bamako, Mali, to develop a plan of action to establish a unified road, railway and air infrastructure to support the circulation of people and goods.

Then, on 22 January, Malian President Assimi Goïta chaired a meeting to ratify the plan.

While a railway links Mali and Senegal, and another railway links Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, no railways connect Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Furthermore, neither of the aforementioned railways carries passengers between neighbouring West African countries.

The ultimate goal of the AES confederation is to unify the three countries into a single federal state, as first agreed upon by their foreign ministers on 30 November and 1 December 2023.

Sources:

https://primature.ml/communique-du-conseil-des-ministres-du-mercredi-22-janvier-2025-cm-n2025-04-sgg

https://wadr.org/mali-sahel-states-outline-roadmap-for-development-projects

https://apanews.net/aes-member-states-adopt-ambitious-projects-at-ministerial-council

https://www.aglgroup.com/en/solutions/rail-transport

https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1506488/economie-entreprises/comment-le-senegal-et-le-mali-veulent-faire-renaitre-le-train-dakar-bamako/?__cf_chl_tk=Lv1Xjn1Gj3uyGTLJOTHaHcwLIYJEQgYArZXJwSQCM2A-1738840467-1.0.1.1-PgIWdjhigvdWmtQk3g5ZJQoH0auRDAhIhJYQZbHipFY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjOrFD0oqUw