The Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) was established by the Treaty signed by the Leaders and Heads of State of member countries on Feb 04, 1998 in Tripoli, convinced that working together for integration and complementarity is the best way to achieve the integration of the States and Peoples of the Sahel-Saharan region.

The idea of the creation of a regional bank was highlighted in Article 4 of the Treaty. The Convention on establishment of the Sahel-Saharan Investment and Trade Bank, BSIC, was signed on April 14, 1999. BSIC is a regional banking institution that provides financial and trade services including funding of foreign investment and foreign trade.