The ministers of culture from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have officially approved the anthem of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), marking a new step in the consolidation of this young regional union, according to Burkina Faso’s national broadcaster RTB on Saturday, May 10.
This decision follows a competition launched a month earlier to create a unifying musical symbol. The initiative, jointly driven by the three member states, aimed to produce an anthem reflecting core values such as sovereignty, patriotism, solidarity, fraternity, loyalty, unity, resilience, bravery, hard work, and endogenous development.
Open to individuals or legal entities from the member countries residing in Burkina Faso, the contest required participants to submit a harmonized musical score, a recording (with or without accompaniment), lyrics in French or an official national language, and a written explanation of the artistic approach.
Submissions were judged on strict criteria: originality, aesthetic appeal, clarity, conciseness, and alignment with AES values. Musically, attention was given to the quality of melody, harmony, rhythm, cultural roots, and a maximum duration of two minutes.
Founded in September 2023 as a political and defense alliance, the AES became a confederation in July 2024 after announcing its withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Since then, the bloc has introduced several symbolic pillars of unity: a common passport in January 2025, a flag and logo in February, and a joint military force currently in formation.