Burkina Faso is using the 81st United Nations General Assembly to present its own account of the country and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), as the three-member bloc seeks to strengthen its international profile.
Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré said Burkina Faso’s approach would focus on presenting what the government considers accurate information about the country and the Alliance of Sahel States, with the aim of influencing international perceptions of the bloc and its policies.
The comments come as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger coordinate their diplomatic presence in New York. Their foreign ministers and diplomatic representatives held preparatory talks ahead of the General Assembly, including discussions on coordinating messages and presentations concerning the AES.
Burkina Faso is also participating in wider UN discussions on multilateralism, development and the interests of developing countries. Its delegation is led by Traoré, who is expected to present Burkina Faso’s position during the General Assembly’s high-level proceedings.
The AES – formed by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger – has increasingly sought to develop a common diplomatic position since the three countries moved away from the regional bloc ECOWAS and established a confederation in 2024. Its international outreach has become an important part of efforts by the three governments to define how their political and security choices are understood abroad.
