The governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have intensified efforts to deepen economic integration within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), with ministers responsible for industry, trade and the private sector meeting in Ouagadougou to advance plans for a confederal common market.
The talks focused on boosting trade within a combined market of more than 77 million people, where commercial exchanges between member states remain limited.
The meeting was opened by Burkina Faso Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo and brought together government officials as well as representatives of chambers of commerce, employers’ organisations and investment agencies from the three countries.
Participants discussed local industrialisation, easier movement of goods, the fight against unfair competition, and the harmonisation of regulations.
Despite the region’s economic potential, trade between AES members remains modest: Burkina Faso’s exports to Mali and Niger amounted to only 15.9 billion CFA francs in the second quarter of 2025, compared with total Burkinabe exports of more than 1,500 billion CFA francs during the same period.
The three economies continue to rely heavily on raw material exports and imports of finished products.
Leaders of the confederation say the success of the proposed common market will depend on securing trade corridors, lowering transport costs, supporting local businesses and expanding the processing of natural resources within the AES region.
