Niger and Mali reaffirmed their commitment to consolidating the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) and intensifying the fight against terrorism, according to a joint communique issued on Thursday.
The communique was issued at the end of a working and friendship visit to Niger by Malian transitional president Assimi Goita.
He was received by Nigerien President Abdourahamane Tiani at Diori Hamani International Airport in the capital, Niamey.
The two leaders held a one-on-one meeting before chairing an expanded working session attended by members of the delegations of the two countries. Their discussions focused on the security situation in the AES region as well as the advances made in the fields of defense and security, diplomacy and development.
On security, the two leaders welcomed the results achieved by the AES Unified Force in combating terrorist groups and reaffirmed their determination to eradicate terrorism in all its forms. They also condemned attempts to destabilize the member states of the confederation by mercenaries allegedly backed by foreign governments.
On the diplomatic front, they welcomed the coordination of the positions and initiatives of the AES countries, saying that it helped strengthen the confederation’s visibility and standing at the subregional, African and international levels.
They also highlighted efforts to coordinate policies and programs in areas including the free movement of people and goods, transport infrastructure, agro-industrial development, and the exploitation of energy and mineral resources.
Goita invited Tiani to pay an official visit to Mali, an invitation Tiani accepted, and the date will be determined through diplomatic channels, according to the joint communique.
Established in July 2024 by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the Confederation of Sahel States provides a framework for cooperation among the three countries in defense and security, diplomacy and development. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
