Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali announce joint military force to fight extremists

The junta-led governments of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have established a joint military force aimed at addressing the escalating extremist violence in the Sahel region, according to a statement released on Wednesday by Niger’s defense minister.

“The force of 5,000 personnel will be posted in the three countries”, Salifou Mody said during an interview on state television, adding that some joint operations have already taken place.

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have been grappling with a persistent insurgency for over a decade, primarily driven by jihadi groups with affiliations to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The region has witnessed a significant escalation in violence, resulting in devastating humanitarian consequences and widespread insecurity.

In response to the deteriorating security, the ruling juntas that emerged from military coups in these three countries have changed their security strategies. After expelling French military forces, which had been involved in counter-terrorism operations in the Sahel, these governments have increasingly turned to Russia for military support.

Also, Mody said the unified force will have its own personnel as well as air, land and intelligence resources and a coordination system.

“We are in the same space. We face the same types of threats, in particular this threat from criminal groups. We had to pool our efforts,” the defense minister said.

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