What's happened
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced a joint battalion of 5,000 troops at a summit in Bamako, aiming to combat rising extremism. The countries have expelled Western military partners and turned to Russia amid ongoing security challenges and regional tensions.
What's behind the headline?
The formation of a joint battalion by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger signals a strategic shift away from Western security partnerships toward regional self-reliance and alignment with Russia. This move underscores the deepening security crisis in the Sahel, where armed groups continue to expand despite increased military efforts. The expulsion of Western forces and the embrace of Russian mercenaries, such as Wagner, reflect a broader geopolitical contest for influence in Africa. While the alliance enjoys popular support domestically, its effectiveness remains uncertain, as Russian forces have been accused of human rights abuses and have struggled against violent extremist groups. The alliance's focus on counterterrorism and border security will likely intensify regional tensions and complicate international efforts to stabilize the area. The recent diplomatic engagement with Nigeria over the aircraft incident indicates a desire to manage regional conflicts through dialogue, but underlying tensions persist, especially as Nigeria and other West African states remain aligned with Western partners. The next few months will reveal whether this regional military cooperation can deliver tangible security improvements or deepen regional instability.
What the papers say
Al Jazeera reports that the Sahel countries have formalized their joint military efforts and expelled Western forces, turning instead to Russia and Turkey for military support. The articles highlight the complex geopolitical landscape, with Russian mercenaries operating in Mali and Burkina Faso, and the countries' rejection of Western influence. The Independent details the recent aircraft incident involving Nigeria and Burkina Faso, illustrating the fragile diplomatic relations amid regional security concerns. Both sources emphasize the ongoing security challenges and the strategic realignments that underpin the alliance, with Western nations criticizing the effectiveness of Russian mercenaries and the military coups that have destabilized the region.
How we got here
The Sahel region has faced escalating violence from armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL, prompting military coups and security realignments. The countries have expelled Western forces and sought alliances with Russia, amid a deteriorating security environment and strained regional relations.
Go deeper
Common question
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Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa. It covers an area of around 274,200 square kilometres and is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north and west; Niger to the east; Benin to the southeast; Togo to the southeast; Ghana to the south
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The Nigerian Air Force is the air branch of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is the youngest branch of the Nigerian military, established four years after the nation became independent.
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Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of just over 1,240,000 square kilometres.
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Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a sovereign country located in West Africa bordering Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west.
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