The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, is on a four-day tour of the Confederation of Sahel States to strengthen ties between the African Union and the alliance's member states.
The visit began in Mali, where he met Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Minister Abdoulaye Diop and Minister for Malians Living Abroad and African Integration Mossa Ag Attaher. Mali's Foreign Ministry says the visit marks a new phase in relations between Bamako and the AU.
Youssouf is in Burkina Faso today for talks focused on deepening co-operation between the AU and Burkina Faso. Unathi Batyashe spoke to Austin Aigbe, Advocacy Officer at the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network.

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