Ouagadougou: A collective of artists from the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) dedicated yesterday, Friday, a musical work entitled "AES Engaged," intended to promote social cohesion and unity, while galvanizing the troops of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in their fight against terrorism.According to Burkina Information Agency, the FDS artists' collective, whose project is led by Burkinabe Warrant Officer Zinsonni Kaleb, alias Kezi, presented the official music video for the song "AES engage" to the public on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the National Center for Arts, Entertainment and Audiovisual (CENASA) in Ouagadougou.This high-quality work, conveying a message of solidarity and unity for the benefit of the FDS engaged in the three AES countries, aims to galvanize the fighting forces in their fight against the common enemy that is terrorism in the Confederation of Sahel States.The music video, the result of a collaboration between eight artists from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, was sung in several languages, including French, Moore, and Dioula, and produced in the three countries.The military artists' initiative is also intended as a means of raising public awareness of resilience, citizen mobilization, and the promotion of national and regional unity within the framework of the AES Confederation.Minister of State, Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, Brigadier General Celestin Simpore, indicated that members of the Burkinabe, Malian, and Nigerien FDS had joined forces to sing a song aimed at boosting the morale of the fighting forces on the ground.For him, the AES soldiers advocate, through their musical work, solidarity, social cohesion, and the promotion of the Army-Nation bond in the fight led by the three member countries."This fight is against terrorism, for self-determination, sovereignty, true independence, and the socio-economic development of our states," he said.The Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs congratulated the musicians for th eir initiative, while emphasizing that they had benefited from the support of the three heads of state of the AES for the realization of their project.'We encourage all artists to follow in their footsteps, as communication through music is a very powerful tool, especially in situations of struggle and difficulty. Artists have a great role to play, as they carry powerful words that everyone listens to through the melodies that accompany them,' he said.General Simpore also urged journalists to promote this clip so that it is widely broadcast in public and private media in Burkina Faso and other countries concerned.The project's promoter, Burkinabe FDS artist Zinsonni Kaleb, alias Kezi, explained that the initiative was born with the creation of the AES, engaged in a common fight against the terrorist hydra.According to him, if the three heads of state of the AES have united to fight the forces of evil, the FDS artists must also support them in this dynamic fight against insecurity."Involving Burkinab e, Malian, and Nigerian artists in the current situation is essential to overcoming terrorism in the AES," said artist Kezi.According to him, tours are planned in major cities of the three member countries to introduce the musical work to the general public.The presentation ceremony was attended by the Minister of State, Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, Brigadier General Celestin Simpore, the representative of the Minister in charge of Culture, the Defense Attache of Mali, and the representative of the Embassy of Niger.
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