New york: The foreign ministers of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have called on the African Union (AU) to correct its errors of judgment and immerse themselves within the AES to better understand the realities on the ground. Burkinabe foreign minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traor emphasized the need for the AU to engage more closely with the AES to address the security challenges effectively.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Minister Traor urged the AU to “correct the errors of judgment” concerning the AES. He highlighted the necessity for “immersion” in the region to foster proximity between decision-makers and those on the ground, moving beyond narratives shaped by individuals removed from the local realities.

Minister Traor was joined by his counterparts from Mali, Abdoulaye Diop, and Nigerien Bakary Yaou Sangar, during a meeting in New York with Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission. Traor stressed that terrorism is a continental issue that cannot be tackled without the involvement of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, even though these countries currently face suspension from the AU.

Traor insisted on the importance of including these nations in discussions about their own affairs, denouncing the lack of international solidarity in addressing the Sahel’s security challenges. Echoing Traor’s sentiments, Malian and Nigerien ministers Diop and Sangar linked the persistence of terrorism to certain external powers’ support, sometimes involving regional intermediaries.

Despite expressing their differences with the AU, the AES diplomats appreciated Chairperson Youssouf’s initiative to send missions to the Sahel for a firsthand understanding of the situation, viewing it as a step towards overcoming decisions based on “unfounded information.” Youssouf acknowledged the concerns and emphasized the importance of adapting the AU’s policies to reflect national realities, assuring that he would work to prevent any isolation of the AES states during his tenure.