The three military juntas of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger recently signed the Liptako-Gourma Charter, thus laying the foundations for the Alliance of Sahel States. This new entity aims to create systems of collective defense and mutual assistance between the three countries.
The Charter stipulates that any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one of the Member States will be considered as aggression towards the other parties, thus incurring a duty of assistance and relief, including the use of force. army if necessary. This cooperation also extends to the fight against terrorism, organized crime and armed rebellions.
This initiative further strengthens collaboration between the three juntas which have already refused to apply ECOWAS sanctions against Niger and have warned that any regional armed intervention would be considered a declaration of war. Ties are also strengthening on the ground, with authorization given to Malian and Burkinabé soldiers to intervene in Niger in the event of aggression.
At the same time, demonstrations took place in Niamey to demand the departure of French forces from the country. Thousands of young Nigeriens, supporting the ruling junta, marched towards the airport, where foreign military forces are based. Protesters are calling for the withdrawal of all foreign forces, calling them imperialists.
The situation in the Sahel region remains precarious, with an increase in terrorist attacks and armed conflicts. This alliance between the three countries aims to strengthen security and stability in the region by adopting a collective approach to the security challenges they face.
In conclusion, the signing of the Liptako-Gourma Charter and the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States are important steps in cooperation between the juntas of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. These initiatives aim to strengthen common defense, the fight against terrorism and regional security. It remains to be seen how these measures will translate on the ground and whether they will succeed in guaranteeing peace and stability in the Sahel region.