At our conference on 24 September 2024 ‘The confederation of Sahel states: A pan-African renaissance?’ Aminata Traoré, a former minister in the government of Mali, gives us her insightful view of the situation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Whether from an economic or social perspective, she helps us to understand an extraordinary situation. It also tackles the issue of post-colonialism and the problems that lie ahead. It also looks at the shortcomings of ECOWAS and its hopes for this new Alliance, which raises so many questions.