Ahmad 
The coastal region of West Africa is witnessing major political and strategic transformations with the announcement of the establishment of the Sahel Confederation by Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.
This new regional bloc came as a result of internal conflicts and political tensions, as these countries declare a hostile stance towards the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Speculation is increasing about other countries joining the confederation, with Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Mauritania, and Chad all indicating their interest in joining. The President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, has expressed his support for the vision of sovereign confederation, while the commander of the Libyan National Army’s ground forces, Saddam Haftar, has visited Burkina Faso, fueling speculation of Libya’s accession.
Mauritanian political analyst, Sultan Alban, points to Russia’s role in forming this alliance, indicating that these countries have strong relations with Russia. However, Alban believes that relying on coups as a strategy to confront great powers is a poor bet for Russia.
On the other hand, the ECOWAS Commission warned of the political isolation and economic losses that the three countries may face as a result of their separation from the group. The Chairman of the Commission, Omar Aliyu Touray, indicated that the move may exacerbate insecurity and hamper efforts to establish a regional counter-terrorism force.
The future prospects of this bloc remain ambiguous, as the founding countries face major challenges at the internal and regional levels, and the accession of new countries may strengthen the position of the confederation, but it may also exacerbate tensions with ECOWAS and Western powers.
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