At an air force base in Bamako, Mali, army ruler General Assimi Goita presided over a landmark ceremony marking the creation of a unified military force for the Sahel region.
The new 5,000-strong force brings together troops from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—three nations currently under military juntas and facing a persistent Islamist insurgency.
In January, Niger’s Defence Minister had announced that the force would “intervene together” to counter regional security threats.
Burkinabe General Daouda Traoré has been appointed to lead the force, with its command base established in Niamey, Niger’s capital.
The Bamako ceremony drew defence ministers from member states of the Sahel Alliance, alongside ambassadors and representatives of international organisations accredited to Mali.
Strategic Integration After ECOWAS Withdrawal
The formation of the Sahel Alliance follows the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS, which the alliance accuses of imposing “inhumane, coup-related sanctions” and acting against the interests of citizens in member countries.
The unified force represents the latest effort by the three nations to deepen military and strategic integration, signalling a shift toward self-reliance in regional security.
The alliance aims to strengthen coordination against insurgent groups, while also projecting political solidarity among the juntas.
The determination of Sahel states to chart an independent security path is growing, even as international observers continue to monitor the implications for regional stability and cooperation.
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