The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) composed of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger is gearing up to raise significant funds to support their economic development and finance various national projects. Between October and December 2024, the three countries plan to raise a total of 455 billion FCFA, approximately 756 million dollars, on the regional market of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). These funds will mainly be obtained through the issuance of Treasury Assimilable Bills (BAT) and Treasury Assimilable Bonds (OAT).
This ambitious initiative is part of a broader strategy to support the economies of the three Sahelian countries, which are facing security, economic, and humanitarian challenges. The amount to be raised by the AES countries represents 32% of the total 1382 billion FCFA that all UEMOA countries plan to mobilize by the end of 2024.
Among the three AES countries, Burkina Faso stands out for its ambition to secure the largest share of funding. The country aims to raise 225 billion FCFA, which represents 26% of the planned issuances on the sub-regional market for this period. This amount will be divided between 60 billion FCFA through BAT and 165 billion through OAT. This mobilization of funds will enable Ouagadougou to strengthen its economy while financing important development projects essential for revitalizing its socio-economic fabric.
As the rotating presidency of the AES, Mali aims to raise a total of 150 billion FCFA. Additionally, the Malian government plans to raise 80 billion through BAT and 70 billion through OAT. These financial resources will be crucial to support reconstruction and development efforts in a country that, despite security challenges, is striving to maintain a stable economic growth trajectory.
Niger, on the other hand, is returning to the regional financial market after a month of absence. The government plans to raise 80 billion FCFA through Treasury Assimilable Bills. This comeback marks an important step for Niamey, which is looking to diversify its sources of funding to accelerate infrastructure development and strengthen its economic capabilities.
The determination of these three AES countries to raise funds comes at a time marked by political and security crises. However, this massive mobilization of funds demonstrates their commitment to enhancing their economic resilience. The choice of the UEMOA regional market is a strong indicator of the countries’ confidence in the platform’s potential to meet their financing needs while strengthening their ties with other union members.
The funds raised by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger will primarily be used to finance strategic projects in key sectors such as infrastructure, health, education, and security. These investments will support growth, improve living conditions for the populations, and stabilize economies often severely affected by armed conflicts and insecurity.