Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, all former French colonies, all military dictatorships, all against islamic terrorism (read our previous stories about these countries here and here), have officially pooled their military resources since Saturday, September 23rd. The new Alliance of the Sahel States (AES) is one of the few, if not the only, military alliances forged without US involvement since the end of the Cold War.
On Saturday, September 23rd, the military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger officially signed a mutual defence agreement in Mali’s capital, Bamako. The pact, known as the Liptako-Gourma Charter, marks the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), as revealed by Assimi Goita, the leader of Mali’s junta, through a post on X/Twitter.
The primary objective of this agreement is to “create a framework for collective defense and mutual support to benefit our respective populations”, as stated by Goita in his message. The Liptako-Gourma region, situated at the confluence of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger’s borders, has endured significant upheaval due to the presence of jihadist groups in recent years.
The emergence of a possibly pro-Russian military alliance in Africa, whose troops have seen combat against the French, has not and will not make the headlines, for obvious reasons…
