Grouped within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso announce the creation of a joint military force tasked with the mission of combating jihadist terrorists.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, March 6th, in Niamey where the chiefs of the armies of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso announced the creation of a joint force.
"This 'Joint Force of the AES countries (...) will be operational in the shortest possible time to address the security challenges in our region," stated General Moussa Salaou Barmou, Chief of Staff of the Niger Armed Forces, in a statement released after a meeting in Niamey.
This meeting follows those of the Senior Officials and Ministers of the AES held in Ouagadougou from February 12th to 15th, which resulted in several proposals and recommendations aimed at creating conditions for the stabilization and integrated development of the AES region.
According to the Niger News Agency (ANP), the Niamey meeting will serve as a platform to examine the proposals and recommendations made by experts and ministers from respective countries, ultimately leading to a Force Schema for securing the territory of the Alliance of Sahel States.
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), established in September 2023, is a mutual defense pact concluded between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
