Leaders from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced a unified military front Tuesday to dismantle extremist groups currently destabilizing the Sahel.
The newly formed joint battalion will launch “large-scale operations” across the three nations to reclaim territory from armed insurgents.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the new head of the Alliance of Sahel States, pledged immediate action against al-Qaida and Islamic State affiliates.
The Sahel region, situated south of the Sahara, has earned a grim reputation as the world’s deadliest zone for extremism.
This military-led coalition recently withdrew from West Africa’s primary regional bloc, seeking total autonomy from traditional international oversight and influence.
Niger’s leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, declared the end of foreign “occupation forces,” specifically referencing the expulsion of French and American troops.
The three nations have pivoted toward Russia as a primary security ally to bolster their overstretched and embattled domestic forces.
Experts warn that the complex security crisis remains a formidable challenge, despite the populist support for this new sovereign alliance.
Beyond military cooperation, the summit participants agreed to deepen economic ties to ensure long-term regional stability and local prosperity.
The upcoming offensive marks a bold, high-stakes gamble to secure a region fractured by years of persistent, deadly conflict.