Three West African countries, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, all ruled by military juntas, have formed a security pact committing to support each other in the case of external rebellion or foreign aggression in a new move to counter ECOWAS.
In addition to having their relations with neighbours and foreign partners strained as a result of the coups, the three countries are trying to contain insurgents connected to al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), 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.
Mali and Burkina Faso have vowed to come to Niger’s aid if it is attacked.
“Any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracted parties will be considered an aggression against the other parties,” according to the charter of the pact, known as the Alliance of Sahel States.
It said the other states will assist individually or collectively, including with the use of armed force.
“I have today signed with the Heads of State of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptako-Gourma charter establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, with the aim of establishing a collective defence and mutual assistance framework,” Mali junta leader Assimi Goita said on his X social media account.
All three states were members of the France-supported G5 Sahel alliance joint force with Chad and Mauritania, launched in 2017 to tackle extremists in the region.
Mali has since left the dormant organisation after a military coup, while deposed Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum said in May last year that the force is now “dead” following Mali’s departure.
Relations between France and the three states have soured since the coups.
Ada Peter
