On March 6, the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced the establishment of a joint force to counter terrorist activities in the Sahel region of Africa, as reported by RFI radio.
This decision was made following a meeting of the Chiefs of Staff Council of the member countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AoSS) at the Mahatma Gandhi International Conference Center in Niamey. General Moussa Salaou Barmou, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Niger, stated after the meeting that the joint force would be operationalized as swiftly as possible to address the security challenges in the region.
The meeting in Niamey reviewed proposals and recommendations developed by experts and ministers from the three countries to enhance security measures within the territories of the ASG member states, as reported by the Niger Press Agency.
The Alliance of Sahel States was officially formed on September 16, 2023, by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The founding document of the alliance emphasized that any violation of the sovereignty or territorial integrity of one or more member states would be deemed an aggression against all parties involved, necessitating their collective or individual assistance, including the use of military force, as a response.
Furthermore, on January 28, 2024, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their joint decision to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which they perceived as being under the influence of foreign powers and posing a threat to the member states and their populations.
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Based on materials from TASS