"The first edition of the Sahel States Alliance (AES) Trade Fair kicked off in Niamey on Tuesday, gathering over 500 exhibitors from several African countries to promote local production, processing, and consumption as a cornerstone of economic sovereignty in the region. Footage shows AES trade ministers inaugurating the exhibition, marking the official opening of the event in a festive atmosphere. They are later seen touring the fair, viewing a wide range of locally produced goods, and engaging with exhibitors. "The theme itself sums up the political and economic vision of the heads of state of our Confederation: a Sahel that draws on its own strengths, promotes its resources and organises its value chains to serve its people," Niger's Minister of Trade Abdoulaye Seydou said. "For decades, our economies have been outward-looking. It is therefore time for a paradigm shift," he continued. "Every time you purchase AES products, you, the consumers, are choosing a sovereign economic model." Moussa Alassane Diallo, Mali's Minister of Trade, highlighted the wide variety of high-quality products on display. "By visiting our stands, you will find an infinite range of flavours and quality products at competitive prices," he said. "It should be remembered that the aim is to make intra-AES trade a strategic and sustainable lever for economic sovereignty," Burkina Faso’s Minister of Trade Serge Gnaniodem Poda added. The fair will run until December 20, 2025, bringing together over 500 exhibitors from member states, as well as Chad, Senegal, Togo, and Morocco, to create a space for trade, promote local products and services, and support economic integration across the region."