Alliance des États du Sahel (AES)

The Alliance des États du Sahel (AES) is a military alliance formed by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, three Sahel nations currently under military rule. The AES aims to foster cooperation and mutual defense among its member states. The alliance is newsworthy due to the emergence of opposition groups, such as the Alliance des démocrates du Sahel (ADS), a coalition of civil society members and politicians from the three countries formed to counter the AES's military juntas. Furthermore, leaked documents suggest that Russian influence operations, specifically through a network called "La Compagnie," played a role in the AES's creation. This alleged Russian involvement adds a layer of geopolitical complexity to the alliance, raising concerns about its long-term objectives and potential impact on regional stability and international relations.