Three years ago, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso broke with the old regional order and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Since then, mainstream coverage has largely portrayed their governments through the language of military juntas, coups, and instability. But on the ground, a much bigger political transformation is underway.

BT’s Nairobi correspondent Nicholas Mwangi explains how the AES emerged, why its governments broke with France and the old regional order, and the changes now underway in security, agriculture, infrastructure, and control over natural resources, despite the enormous historical, security, and geopolitical challenges facing the region.

This video also features firsthand accounts from people across the AES countries, captured by our colleagues at Brasil de Fato in their documentary, Sahel: Homeland or Death.

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