In their names, the Confederation of Sahel States extends to you, Mr. President, its warm congratulations on your election to the presidency of the eighty-first session. It offers you its wishes for success in the discharge of your mandate and joins in the pride of the friendly people of Bangladesh. To Her Excellency Ms. Annalena BAERBOCK, we reiterate our positive appreciation for her deft conduct of the work of the eightieth session.
It is with hearts filled with the memory of thousands of children, women and men of Burkina Faso, Mali and the Niger, innocent victims of terrorism, that I take the floor. But it is also with the pride drawn from the resilience of the peoples of the Sahel, and the hope inspired by the bravery of the defence and security forces of the Confederation, as well as by the crucial role played by the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland, that I am entrusted with the noble mission of delivering this statement.
I would also like to spare a reverent thought for the bereaved families, the stricken communities and all those whose lives have been affected by terrorist barbarity.
For more than a decade, this blind violence has been sustained, armed, financed and instrumentalized by criminal networks and their supporters, determined to subjugate the Sahel through fear. But let them hear it here: they will not succeed.
I bow with deep respect before the memory of the defence and security forces of the Confederation of Sahel States, our Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland, and all our patriotic forces who fell on the field of honour.
In evoking their memory, I offer a reverent thought for Army General Sadio CAMARA, cowardly assassinated on 25 April 2026 for his commitment to peace in Mali and in the Sahel.
The supreme sacrifice that our heroes have made is the seed of the freedom, justice and sovereignty to which our oppressed peoples aspire. It is the daily sustaining source of our collective determination to regain the integrity of our territories, to defend our dignity and to guarantee our sacred right to live free, in peace and in security.
To the people of the Confederation of Sahel States, including its diaspora, I pay solemn tribute and renew to them my pride. The courage, resilience, commitment and mobilization that they demonstrate every day, in support of the efforts of the Heads of State of the AES Confederation, remain the centre of gravity of our march towards sovereignty, stability and development.
To all the peoples of Africa and of the world who share our struggle and who recognize themselves in the ideal of peace, dignity and freedom championed by the AES Confederation, I reiterate my gratitude.
The confederal dynamic undertaken and assumed by our States, far from being isolation, is the expression of the refusal of fatality and chronic tutelage, as well as the rejection of selective indignation in the face of human tragedy. It is the sign of the shared will of our States to break out of the vicious circle of structural domination and exploitation deeply rooted in colonialist and neo-colonialist vestiges. It carries within it the hope of the rebirth of the central Sahel, long labelled with every demeaning qualifier.
The new march embarked upon since 16 September 2023 through the adoption of the Liptako-Gourma Charter, consolidated by the establishment of the Confederation of Sahel States on 6 July 2024, has revealed a new horizon for the peoples of the AES.
Every stretch of territory regained, every terrorist base destroyed, every battle won over the forces of evil, every school reopened, every village resettled, every reform initiated, brings us closer to that new horizon defended with determination by Comrade Captain Ibrahim TRAORE, Army General Assimi GOITA and Army General Abdourahamane TIANI.
Under their enlightened leadership, through thick and thin, the Alliance of Sahel States asserts itself every day by taking charge of and assuming its destiny. A destiny of dignity, prosperity, freedom and justice.
It asserts itself through the mobilization of one people in a common space for a shared destiny: “One people, one space, one destiny”: this motto guides each of our actions and is embodied in the operationalization of the unified Force of the Confederation, just as it is embodied in the creation of the Confederal Bank for Investment and Development. It is embodied in the consolidation relations between all the institutions of the countries of the AES, just as it is embodied in the strengthening of the age-old historical ties between the communities and the driving forces of our area. Lastly, this motto lives in the diplomatic cohesion of the three States, illustrated in the finest way by this very statement delivered on behalf of the States of the Confederation of AES, on behalf of the Peoples of the Confederation of AES and on behalf of the Diaspora of the Confederation of AES.
AES welcomes the choice of the theme of the present session: “Rebuilding trust, managing transformation: an Organization for all”.
In itself alone, this theme is an undeniable admission:
- the admission of trust eroded among members because of double standards, partial positions, institutionalized injustice, and the instrumentalization of institutions and procedures;
- the admission that our Organization is struggling to adapt to the changes, yet obvious, of a constantly evolving world; and
- the admission of recognition that our Organization, alas, is no longer for all, but belongs more to actors chosen according to their power and their interests.
The verses of hope set out in the Charter of the United Nations and praising peace are scorned, international law is martyred and tortured by members whose propensity for domination, neocolonialism and hegemony is beyond question.
Yes, trust must be rebuilt; this is an ambition that we share. But this suggests that our Organization must cease to be the mouthpiece or showcase of a few powers in order to become the common home of peoples, equal in dignity, equal in rights and equal in sovereignty. It is in the light of this requirement, and of what is at stake in the Sahel, that we are taking part in these deliberations.
For the Confederation of Sahel States, rebuilding trust necessarily goes hand in hand with the immediate cessation of State support for terrorists, for terrorism cannot continue to be an instrument of the foreign policy of certain powers.
The Confederation of Sahel States is not confronted with a mere addition of isolated terrorist groups. We are facing a persistent enterprise of destabilization, supported by considerable means and directed against the right of our peoples to live in peace, to choose their leaders, to dispose of their resources and to exercise their sovereignty fully.
The terrorist attacks, in particular those perpetrated on 25 April and 4 July 2026 in the Republic of Mali, on 18 June and on 29 and 30 August 2026 in the Republic of the Niger, perfectly illustrate this finding.
Let us say it bluntly: the supply chains, the technical capacities and the coordinated use of such conventional means do not arise out of nothing. Behind the terrorist’s murderous arm there emerge structured support networks, including State support, driven by the desire to regain lost advantages and privileges. We call on the international community to face the facts, to investigate seriously and to condemn, without geopolitical calculation, all those who finance, arm, provide intelligence to or protect terrorists. Silence, in the face of such actions, is no longer prudence but complicity.
Rebuilding trust also goes hand in hand with strict respect for the sovereignty of States; it goes hand in hand with the development of partnership and not subjugation; it goes hand in hand with justice freed from neocolonialist designs. This is contrary to the instrumentalization of certain international human rights protection mechanisms for purposes of political pressure against our countries, such as the ill-chosen role of the European Parliament in justifying a possible neocolonial offensive through its ill-founded resolutions against the Sahel.
Trust cannot be reborn in an Organization that invokes law for some and tolerates arbitrariness for others, that demands of the weak what it does not dare ask of the powerful.
The promotion and protection of fundamental rights constitute, for our States, a responsibility that is fully assumed. We exercise it in a context of extreme violence imposed on our populations by terrorists. When our States adopt exceptional measures, strictly governed by their national legislation and their international obligations, they act to protect populations, preserve public order and guarantee national security. For the first human right is the right to life; the first freedom of a people is not to live under terror.
We note that these measures are too often the subject of partial and selective readings, without sufficient consideration for realities on the ground. The Confederation reaffirms its commitment to an impartial, objective and non-selective approach to human rights. It calls for dialogue based on mutual respect, good faith and the rigour of facts. We accept impartial and objective examination; however, we reject political prosecution. Yes to respect for the law; but we reject its instrumentalization.
It is precisely because of serious shortcomings, persistent selectivity and politicization that has become manifest that our States have sovereignly decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court and have formally notified their withdrawal from the Rome Statute.
International justice, yes; variable-geometry justice, no. The Confederation remains committed to independent, impartial and credible multilateral institutions.
The Confederation of Sahel States stands against domination, exploitation and contempt.
It subscribes to the vision of an Africa restored in its dignity, which chooses its own path, which takes charge of itself, which frees itself from the constraints and burdens of the past, in order to be master of its destiny.
In this regard, the Confederation of Sahel States welcomes the adoption, on 25 March 2026, by the United Nations General Assembly, of the resolution recognizing the transatlantic trafficking of Africans reduced to slavery and the system of racial enslavement as the most serious crime against humanity. This is an opportunity to reiterate our warm congratulations to the highest authorities of the Republic of Ghana and to all Afro-descendant communities that carried this issue forward with the support of all, in order to take this decisive step towards justice.
This historic recognition, part of a noble march, must open the way to truth, memory, reparations and a real transformation of the international relations inherited from slavery and colonization.
This is also an opportunity to welcome the recent adoption, just three weeks ago, on 04 September last, of resolution A/80/L.104, aimed at restoring its natural greatness to Africa after several centuries of underestimation and minimization of the size of our dear continent. We congratulate the highest authorities of the Togolese Republic for having carried, with dexterity, the mission entrusted to it in the framework of the advocacy that made this legitimate victory possible.
With regard to peace and international security, our world remains confronted with the multiplication of armed conflicts, the emergence of new crises and the return of the law of the strongest. Unilateral approaches, sanctions outside the law, selective interventions and double standards weaken the international order and severely test the multilateral system.
The Confederation of Sahel States calls for the immediate cessation of violence against civilian populations, for unhindered humanitarian access and for a just and lasting political solution.
The inability of the Security Council to prevent or durably resolve these crises reveals the limits of a system that too often protects the interests of powers to the detriment of human life.
With regard to development, the Confederation remains concerned by the worsening of climate vulnerabilities, the multiplication of humanitarian crises, and the malicious use of information technologies and artificial intelligence for purposes of manipulation and destabilization. The conclusions of the High-level Political Forum of July 2026 confirm that the international community remains far from the Sustainable Development Goals. Four years from the 2030 deadline, the time is no longer for ritual declarations: it is for action, equitable financing and economic justice.
Faced with these challenges, collective, ambitious and solidary responses are required. The Pact for the Future, Seville Compromise, the Doha Programme of Action, the UN80 initiative and the Awaza Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries can help make the multilateral system more effective, more inclusive and more results-oriented, on condition that they do not remain promises. Our priorities must be clearly defined: reduce the digital divide, strengthen climate resilience, invest in human capital, consolidate health and education systems, support industrialization, ensure the effective participation of young people and women in decision-making. International solidarity is necessary; but the experience of the Confederation of Sahel States also demonstrates that the mobilization of internal resources, based on trust, national solidarity and citizen participation, is the first lever of economic liberation.
The Confederation of Sahel States supports the efforts undertaken within the framework of the UN80 Initiative, convinced that our Organization must undergo a profound transformation to respond to contemporary challenges. But reform must not be a pretext to further reduce the presence of the United Nations in countries. It must be political, democratic and courageous in the redistribution of voices, responsibilities and powers.
The reform of the Security Council can no longer wait.
It must strengthen transparency and accountability, put an end to double standards, and adapt the Organ to geopolitical reality. The Confederation of Sahel States reaffirms reiterates its support for the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.
The credibility of the United Nations will depend on its capacity to uphold, with the same rigour and without distinction, the Charter, international law and the sovereign equality of States. In this spirit, the Confederation of Sahel States reiterates its call for the lifting of all unilateral coercive measures contrary to international law, including the embargo imposed on Republic of Cuba. Reform of global governance must also transform international financial architecture: more equitable representation of developing countries in international financial institutions, fair treatment of debt, real access to development financing, fairer international trade and respect for national priorities.
The Confederation of Sahel States remains resolutely committed to working, alongside all Member States of the United Nations, for the advent of a more just, more equitable and more united international order, founded on the dignity of peoples, the sovereign equality of States, international justice and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
But our cooperation will never be synonymous with submission, and our openness will never mean the abandonment of our vital interests.
It is only on this condition that we will be able to restore trust among Nations, restore credibility to our Organization, and offer present and future generations a safer, more prosperous world that is more respectful of the aspirations of all peoples.
We ask no one for permission to exist. We seek from no one a certificate of sovereignty. We move forward, united and standing tall, because our cause is just and because our future belongs to us.
Ladies and Gentlemen Heads of Delegation, Ladies and Gentlemen, At the national level, I should now like to draw the attention of our august Assembly to a number of considerations regarding the situation in my country.
Burkina Faso has embarked on a dynamic of profound transformation, driven by the progressive popular Revolution. At a time when we are preparing to commemorate its fourth anniversary, we can, with responsibility and lucidity, note the progress made in several areas of national life.
On the economic front, Burkina Faso is resolutely pursuing its efforts towards a structural transformation of its economy and development based to a greater extent on its own potential. In synergy with the other member States of the Confederation of Sahel States, our country is working to strengthen its productive capacities, enhance the value of its national resources and further promote the local processing of our raw materials.
In the agricultural and industrial sectors in particular, important presidential initiatives are being implemented in order to stimulate national production, create jobs and strengthen the participation of our populations in economic activity.
Under the leadership of Comrade Captain Ibrahim TRAORE, President of Faso, Burkina Faso has chosen to place the people at the heart of every dynamic, by encouraging the creation of new production and processing units and by promoting better enhancement of the value of our resources. Through hope-bearing initiatives, in particular the six major presidential initiatives, our economy is being energized and gradually consolidated.
Our ambition is to strengthen the foundations of endogenous, sustainable and inclusive development, while continuing the profound refoundation of our society and the strengthening of our economic sovereignty.
This transformation also concerns infrastructure, the development of which is gradually accompanying the dynamic of modernization and structural transformation of our economy.
In this regard, the RELANCE Plan 2026-2030 constitutes a major framework for consolidating this orientation and supporting the changes undertaken in our country.
By relying first and foremost on our own strengths, by choosing to exploit and process our resources locally, we intend to create more value within our economy and ensure that the wealth of our country primarily benefits our populations.
On the security front, Burkina Faso, in coordination with the countries of our confederation, is continuing its efforts to restore lasting peace, security and social cohesion throughout its territory.
More than 74 per cent of the national territory is now under its control. Our Defence and Security Forces, as well as our Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland, are continuing their operations against terrorist groups and criminal gangs.
These developments are reflected in particular in the recapture of several villages and localities, the gradual return of thousands of persons to their places of residence, the reopening of dozens of schools, as well as the resumption of activities in several health centres and the gradual re-establishment of the administration.
These gains, which continue to be consolidated, are the fruit of the efforts and sacrifices made by our people, as well as the commitment of all those mobilized for the restoration of peace and security.
In the Middle East, we remain particularly concerned by the situation of the Palestinian people and the suffering endured by the civilian populations of Gaza.
Faced with this tragedy, Burkina Faso reaffirms its commitment to a lasting political solution based on the coexistence of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.
In another area, Burkina Faso remains concerned by the consequences of unilateral coercive measures imposed on certain States, in particular Cuba and Nicaragua, the repercussions of which severely affect populations. In this regard, we call for priority to be given to dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect among States.
With regard to the question of Western Sahara, Burkina Faso, faithful to the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, reaffirms its attachment to the political process conducted under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
We encourage the continuation of efforts aimed at achieving a negotiated political solution between the parties, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council.
Likewise, we reaffirm our attachment to the principle of one China.
Through these various considerations, Burkina Faso wishes to reaffirm an essential conviction: our Organization will be able to respond fully to the challenges of our time only if it remains faithful to the principles that presided over its creation.
We remain convinced that, through dialogue, solidarity and determination, the United Nations together with our peoples can overcome the trials they face and build the foundations of a future of peace, dignity and shared prosperity.
One People - One Space - One Destiny.
Long live the Confederation of Sahel States standing upright Long live the Sahel standing upright.
Long live a united Africa.
The Homeland or Death, we shall overcome! I thank you.