Niger’s General Abdourahamane Tchiani welcomed Burkinabé counterpart Captain Ibrahim Traoré to Niamey on Friday. This marks the first meeting of military leaders from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to solidify their alliance amid regional opposition.
Military takeovers in these three nations from 2020 to 2023 led to the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), driven partly by jihadist violence. In January, they announced plans to exit the regional bloc Ecowas, which holds its summit on Sunday.
At the Saturday meeting in Niamey, the junta chiefs, including Mali’s Col Assimi Goïta, aim to formalize AES, focusing on security cooperation and closer economic ties, such as creating a common currency to replace the French-backed CFA Franc.
The countries have expelled French troops, seeking Russian military aid instead. Their rhetoric emphasizes sovereignty and rejecting former colonial powers. They have also resisted Ecowas’s calls for a swift return to civilian rule.
Capt Traoré received a warm welcome in Niamey, with crowds waving flags and expressing pride in the new African-led alliance. Col Goïta is expected to arrive on Saturday.
Ecowas leaders will respond at a heads of state meeting in Abuja on Sunday, announcing a standby force to address regional insecurity. Despite efforts, the Sahel remains a hotspot for Islamic State activity, contributing to ongoing instability.
