The Sahel Coup Belt as a Counter-hegemonic Bloc: The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Sovereigntism and the Unmaking of the ECOWAS Liberal Order
The withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January 2025 and their consolidation under the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) mark a doctrinal rupture rather than a transient security crisis. This article advances the argument that the AES constitutes t...