Ministers from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, three military regimes grouped within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), are meeting in Ouagadougou with a vision to create a confederation. "This withdrawal offers us an opportunity, a new opportunity to achieve real fraternity, real solidarity and real integration without any outside interference or manipulation." says Abdoulaye Maïga, representing Mali at the meeting. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES