Confederation of Sahel States Moves to Establish Joint Judicial Body

The Confederation of Sahel States (CSS), comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, has announced plans to establish a joint judicial body aimed at enhancing legal cooperation and addressing transnational challenges within the region.

The decision was made during the inaugural conference of CSS justice ministers held in Bamako on May 29 and 30, 2025. The meeting focused on creating a common legal framework to tackle issues such as insecurity, arms proliferation, and money laundering, while strengthening the convergence of judicial systems among member states.

The proposed judicial body will have several key objectives, including harmonising national laws, enhancing the fight against transnational crime, and reducing reliance on existing regional legal frameworks.

This initiative is part of the CSS’s broader efforts to strengthen institutional integration.

In May 2025, the confederation announced the creation of its investment bank, the Banque Confédérale d’Investissement et de Développement (BCID-AES), with an initial capital of 500 billion CFA francs (approximately $762 million). The bank aims to finance development projects in agriculture, energy, education, and industrialisation, reducing dependence on external funding sources.

The CSS was officially established in July 2024, following the withdrawal of its member states from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The confederation seeks to promote regional stability, economic independence, and self-reliance in the face of security threats and political pressures.

The establishment of a joint judicial body represents a significant step toward legal empowerment for the CSS and may serve as a model for other regional integration initiatives in Africa.

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Joy Chukwu

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