The three West African countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have signed a security agreement to help each other in the event of aggression, particularly by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The three countries, all under military rule and struggling to contain rebel groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, signed an agreement over the weekend.
The recent coup in Niger has worsened relations between these three countries and the regional bloc ECOWAS. ECOWAS has threatened to use force to restore constitutional governance in the country.
Mali and Burkina Faso have pledged to assist Niger if it is attacked by ECOWAS.
Other countries said they would provide assistance, individually or collectively, including through the use of force.
“Today, I signed with the heads of state of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptaco-Gourma Charter, which establishes an alliance of Sahel countries aimed at creating a framework for collective defense and mutual support,” said Asimi Goita, Mali’s junta leader, on his own X social media account.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger were members of the French-backed G5 Sahel Alliance coalition with Chad and Mauritania, which was launched in 2017 to combat extremism in the region.
Mali left the organization following a military coup but ousted Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum said last May that the force had “dead” following Mali’s departure.
It turns out that all three countries are facing threats from jihadist groups since decades.
