The junta-led nations of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have decided to form a combined force to combat insurgency in their respective regions in response to growing security challenges.
The announcement came from Niger’s armed forces chief, Moussa Salaou Barmou, following a meeting with counterparts from the three countries.
This decision marks the latest step in closer alignment among the neighbouring countries in West Africa’s insurgency-plagued central Sahel region.
The move follows their decision to sever military ties with longstanding allies, including France, and establish a cooperation pact known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
During a televised statement, Barmou emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the joint force would be operational “as soon as possible to meet the security challenges.” However, specific details regarding the size and scope of the force were not disclosed.
The region has been plagued by violence fueled by a decade-long fight against Islamist groups affiliated with Al Qaeda and Islamic State. The situation has worsened since the military seized power in a series of coups between 2020 and 2023.
According to reports from the U.S.-based crisis-monitoring group ACLED, conflict fatalities in the central Sahel surged by 38% in 2023 compared to the previous year. Burkina Faso, in particular, witnessed a significant toll, with over 8,000 reported deaths due to violence last year alone.
