The Alliance of Sahel States ("AES") is a confederation formed between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which originated as a mutual defense pact created following the 2023 Nigerien crisis, in which the West African political bloc ECOWAS threatened to intervene militarily to restore civilian rule after a coup in Niger earlier that year. All three member states have since seceded from ECOWAS and are currently under the control of juntas following a string of successful coups. The AES was established on 6 July 2024, with the stated goals to pool resources to build energy and communications infrastructure, establish a common market, implement a monetary union under proposed currency, allow free movement of persons, and enable industrialization and investment, with the end goal of federalizing into a single sovereign state. The AES has already implemented common passports and a common custom duty, and is currently developing a joint military and counter terrorism force, central bank, and parliament.