A Conversation with the Ambassadors of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger: The Sahel at a Crossroads

The Sahel is at an inflection point. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have reconsidered their relations with Western security frameworks, formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and pivoted toward new partnerships, reshaping the region’s political, security, and humanitarian landscape in the process. As part of the Stimson Center’s Ambassador Series, this event brings together the sitting ambassadors of all three AES member states for a joint, moderated conversation on the forces driving regional realignment and the prospects for constructive engagement going forward. The discussion will span the AES political project, shifting security arrangements, humanitarian conditions, critical minerals governance, and the conditions under which a reframed relationship with the United States might be possible.