Alliance of Democrats of the Sahel (ADS) Officially Launched in Brussels to Challenge Sahel Military Juntas

Malick Konaté, Secretary General of the ADS

A New Democratic Voice Born in Exile
A group of Malian, Burkinabè and Nigerien citizens living in exile announced the creation of the Alliance of Democrats of the Sahel (ADS), a movement that intends to defend public freedoms and work towards a return to constitutional order in these countries ruled by military regimes. (Advanced Television)
Founded on April 7, 2026, the ADS officially launched its activities in Brussels on May 9, 2026. The movement, carried by Malian, Burkinabè and Nigerien citizens living mostly in exile, advocates for the return to the rule of law, the defense of fundamental freedoms, and the holding of credible elections in the Sahel region.

Who Founded It?
Around fifty members of civil society, political figures, and opinion leaders gathered in Brussels to found the ADS. The movement is presided over by Dr. Mayra Djibrine, an engaged figure living in exile in Paris.

"The ADS was born from a desire among Malian, Burkinabè and Nigerien democrats not to accept fate, not to let our countries collapse," Dr. Djibrine explained to AFP. "We cannot allow people, just because they have weapons, to get up one fine day and confiscate the will of the people, to take entire countries hostage," she added.

A Direct Counter to the Alliance of Sahel States
The ADS positions itself as a counterweight to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which it describes as a "syndicate of coup plotters." Its principal strategy is to exert diplomatic pressure and international lobbying to promote constitutional order and fundamental freedoms.

Named in direct opposition to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the new movement advocates "peaceful struggle" against the "militarization of the state."

The Crisis It Responds To
The Sahel region is experiencing a serious political crisis, marked by a succession of coups d'état between 2020 and 2022 that brought juntas to power in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The three countries, facing violence from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, are regularly accused of restricting civil liberties and suppressing dissenting voices in the name of the fight against jihadist.

Goals and Strategy
The group intends to encourage the partners of the Sahelian juntas to exert pressure in order to obtain the organization of elections by the military authorities, respect for human rights, and the release of political prisoners in the three countries. The movement also plans to open a membership campaign.

Unlike a conventional political party, the ADS claims a civil society approach, describing itself as a "democratic shield" for the peoples of the Sahel.

Complementing Domestic Resistance
According to Malick Konaté, Secretary General of the ADS, the alliance aims to complement local dynamics such as the Coalition of Forces for the Republic (CFR) led by Imam Mahmoud Dicko in Mali by offering a regional and coordinated approach.

Between its detractors who question the ADS's local roots in the countries concerned, and its supporters who see it as a significant counterweight to the AES, the new movement will need to demonstrate its capacity to truly influence the course of events in Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou.

Mustapha Bature Sallama.
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal investigation and Intelligence Analysis.
International Conflict Management and Peace Building.USIP
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