OUAGADOUGOU — In a significant ceremonial gesture, President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso and Colonel Assimi Goïta of Mali were conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Niger on Friday by President Abdourahame Tiani of Niger.

According to Burkina Information Agency, also the Brigadier General and Grand Master of National Orders, signed decrees bestowing this high honor on his Sahelian counterparts. This recognition comes as an acknowledgment of their unwavering commitment to the sovereignty and solidarity of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and their efforts to promote the cultural values and dignified development of their nations.