BAMAKO (CONVERSEER) – The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), made up of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, has officially adopted its anthem; just a month after launching a public competition to create one.
This step marks another milestone in the bloc’s efforts to strengthen unity and celebrate its core principles.
The anthem was approved by the ministers of culture from the member states on Saturday, May 10, as reported by Burkina Faso’s national television (RTB).
Designed to represent shared values such as sovereignty, patriotism, solidarity, fraternity, loyalty, resilience, courage, hard work, and self-driven development, the anthem serves as a cultural and symbolic identity for the AES Confederation.
The competition was open to both individuals and groups residing in Burkina Faso and holding citizenship in any of the three AES countries.
Submissions were required to include a musical score, an audio recording (either with or without instruments), lyrics in French or an official local language, and a note detailing the artistic inspiration.
The anthem is part of a larger push for deeper integration, which has included the introduction of a shared passport in January 2025 and a flag and logo in February, as well as plans to establish a joint security force.