By The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a confederation of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has announced the launch of AES Radio and TV, a new media platform aimed at shaping the region’s narrative and countering what officials call “disinformation campaigns” by foreign outlets.
The announcement, shared via social media by user @fanti_boy on April 26, 2025, marks a significant step in the AES’s broader strategy to assert its independence and credibility on the global stage, as the bloc celebrates its first anniversary since its formation in September 2023.
The AES was born out of a tumultuous period in the Sahel, a region often referred to as the “Coup Belt” due to a wave of military takeovers. Mali (2021), Burkina Faso (2022), and Niger (2023) have all seen their governments overthrown by military juntas, driven by dissatisfaction with their leaders’ handling of Islamic insurgencies, protests, and perceived overreach by Western powers—particularly France.
These coups, part of a larger trend where 21 of 27 sub-Saharan African coups since 1990 have occurred in former French colonies, have led to a dramatic realignment of regional alliances. The AES countries have severed military agreements with France, expelled French troops, and, in Mali’s case, even removed French as an official language.
This new media initiative comes on the heels of increasing tensions with Western media outlets. Mali, for instance, suspended France24 and RFI in 2022, and just last week, banned another French TV channel for alleged violations of media regulations, according to the High Authority of Communication.
An official from Mali’s Department of Communication, speaking anonymously to Anadolu Ajansı, emphasized that AES Radio and TV are part of a “broader strategy aimed at strengthening the credibility of the AES on the international scene.” The platform will serve as a counterweight to foreign media narratives, which the AES accuses of misrepresenting the region’s challenges and governance.
The launch of AES Radio and TV also reflects a growing trend among regional blocs to leverage digital media to control their narratives. This move parallels global shifts in broadcasting, such as the adoption of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) services in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
While DRM and satellite radio initiatives like WorldSpace have aimed to provide high-fidelity broadcasting to underserved regions, the AES initiative is distinctly political in its intent—focused on fostering a unified Sahel identity and resisting external influence. A common communication strategy roadmap, established last month by AES member states, underscores this coordinated effort, following earlier meetings of the bloc’s news agency directors.
The AES’s media project is emblematic of broader geopolitical shifts in the Sahel. After their coups, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger exited the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in early 2025, accusing the organization of being a tool of Western interests. They also dissolved the G5 Sahel, a framework previously supported by France to combat regional insurgencies.
Instead, the AES has sought new partnerships, turning to Russia, the Wagner Group, and Turkey for support, a move that has worsened relations with the West. This realignment has been driven by deep resentment over French military, financial, and political influence, which many in the region blame for destabilizing effects—a sentiment echoed by analysts who note the disproportionate number of coups in former French colonies.
The Sahel’s “Coup Belt,” stretching across West and Central Africa, has become a focal point for understanding the interplay of local grievances and global power dynamics. While the AES countries share similar motivations—combating insurgencies, addressing governance failures, and rejecting Western dominance—their challenges are far from uniform.
For instance, unlike Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which are embroiled in battles against Islamist militants, the 2023 coup in Gabon was driven by protests over electoral misconduct after 56 years of Bongo family rule. Yet, the AES’s formation and its media initiative signal a shared desire for self-determination, even as the bloc navigates complex internal and external pressures.
As AES Radio and TV prepare to go live, questions remain about their reach and impact. Will this platform succeed in uniting the Sahel’s diverse populations under a common narrative, or will it deepen the region’s isolation from global media networks?
The AES Technical Committee has hinted at leveraging modern broadcasting technologies, potentially drawing inspiration from digital radio advancements elsewhere, but the success of this venture will likely hinge on the bloc’s ability to address its internal challenges while projecting a coherent vision to the world.
For now, the launch of AES Radio and TV stands as a bold declaration of the Sahel States’ intent to reclaim their voice in a media landscape long dominated by foreign powers. As the region continues to redefine its place on the global stage, the world will be watching—and listening—closely.
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