Three West African Sahel countries—Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—ruled by military juntas pledged on Saturday to support one another in the event of internal uprising or foreign assault.
Due to the coups, ties between the three nations and their neighbours as well as with foreign partners have been strained. The three nations are also trying to suppress Islamist insurgents linked to both al-Qaida and the Islamic State organisation.
The Economic Community of West African States, a regional bloc that has threatened to use force to restore constitutional government in the country, is more divided as a result of the most recent coup in Niger.
In case of an assault, Mali and Burkina Faso have committed to help Niger.
The Alliance of Sahel States’ charter states that “Any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracted parties will be considered an aggression against the other parties.”
It declared that other nations will offer support either singly or collectively, including through the use of force.
According to Assimi Goita, the head of the Mali junta, “I have today signed the Liptako-Gourma charter establishing the Alliance of Sahel States with the Heads of State of Burkina Faso and Niger, with the aim of establishing a collective defence and mutual assistance framework.”
The G5 Sahel alliance, a collaborative force with Chad and Mauritania that was established in 2017 to combat Islamist organisations in the region, including all three of these countries as members.
Following a military takeover, Mali abandoned the organisation, leading Niger’s now-deposed President Mohamed Bazoum to declare the force defunct in May of last year.
Since the coups, ties between France and the three states have deteriorated.
After being ordered to remove its ambassador and troops from Mali and Burkina Faso, France was compelled to do so. Currently, France is engaged in a tense standoff with the junta that has taken control of Niger.
France has declined to acknowledge the junta’s rule.
Reuters
