Enemy of My Enemy

Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali are joining their military forces to address security concerns in the troubled central Sahel region by deploying a force of 5,000 soldiers, a move seen as an attempt to legitimize their rule amid strained regional relations and sanctions, Reuters reported.

On Tuesday, Niger Defence Minister Salifou Mody announced that the three nations – members of the recently-formed Alliance of Sahel States (AES) – will have personnel and a coordination system, together with air, land, and intelligence resources.

The 5,000-strong force will be posted in the three countries, adding that some joint operations have already taken place, Mody added.

Plagued by political instability, terrorist attacks, and armed insurgencies, the Sahel – the arid swath of land south of the Sahara Desert – is considered one of the most insecure regions on Earth.

For more than a decade, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have been fighting jihadi groups, including allies of al Qaeda and the Islamic State, ABC News reported.

All three countries are now ruled by juntas that took power between 2020 and 2023, then left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), cut all ties with neighbors, and expelled French troops, while turning to Russian mercenaries for security assistance, the Associated Press reported.

The AES is joining forces hoping to stabilize the region, combat shared enemies, and secure their borders from possible insurgencies or terrorist attacks.

However, analysts said the security situation in the region has worsened since the juntas took power. More than 3,470 people have died in the last six months while 2.6 million are currently displaced.