AES FRIENDSHIP SHINES BRIGHTER THAN GOLD

In 1974, boxer and activist Muhammad Ali shared his beautiful poem about friendship in a televised interview.

Today, three countries in Africa are shining examples of what he meant. The Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—established in September by three countries that underwent popular coups: Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—have forged a bond, both at the level of heads of state and at the grassroots among civilians.

These landlocked countries in the Sahel, an arid zone south of the Sahara Desert, are closer than ever as they have agreed that an attack on any of the AES member-states is an attack on them all. The countries recently announced they would leave the France-backed regional organisation, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), flustering their Western-aligned neighbours. The AES lays the groundwork for Pan-African unity.

Burkina Faso and Mali are among Africa's top gold producers, yet they understand their alliance—or their friendship—is more powerful.