Bamako, Ouagadougou and Niamey are key players in a new initiative in the fight against cross-border threats. Indeed, the military leaders of the three countries, Colonel Goïta, Captain Traoré and General Tiani, recently signed the Liptako-Gourma Charter, thus marking the birth of the Alliance of Sahel States.
This alliance aims to strengthen cooperation between the three countries in terms of collective defense and mutual assistance. In the event of a threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one of the members, the other countries undertake to provide assistance, including through the use of armed force if necessary.
Beyond defense, this alliance also intends to fight terrorism, organized crime and armed rebellions. If the peaceful route is favored, the use of force is also considered as an option.
This initiative is part of a regional dynamic where the three juntas in power in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger seek to strengthen their cooperation in the face of common challenges. They have already refused to apply ECOWAS sanctions against Niger and warned that an armed regional intervention would be considered a declaration of war. Niger has even signed orders authorizing Malian and Burkinabé soldiers to intervene on its territory in the event of aggression.
However, this initiative is not without provoking reactions. Indeed, in Niamey, thousands of young people demonstrated to demand the departure of French forces from the country. Organized by a Committee in Support of the Putschists, the demonstration expressed its distrust of foreign military forces, calling them “imperialists”.
This declaration marks an important step in regional defense and security cooperation. The Alliance of Sahel States will now have to work to establish coordination and cooperation mechanisms to face common challenges and ensure the security of populations in the Sahel region.