Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—now united under the Alliance of Sahel States—are planning to launch a regional investment bank to reduce their dependence on foreign aid. The bank will be financed by redirecting 5% of each country’s tax revenues, ensuring self-reliance in decision-making. This bold initiative reflects the trio’s broader push for economic sovereignty after all three countries cut ties with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and distanced themselves from former colonial power France. Alongside deepening military collaboration, the alliance is also eyeing joint ventures in energy, mining, and infrastructure, marking a new era of regional solidarity. By pooling resources and reclaiming control over development priorities, the Sahelian states aim to rewrite their economic narrative on their own terms.
SEMAFOR
