The military regimes that rule Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have agreed to create the defence alliance “Alliance of Sahel States” (AES).

The goal, according to the head of Mali’s junta, Assimi Goita, is to establish an architecture of collective defence and mutual aid.

J’ai signé ce jour avec les Chefs d’Etat du Burkina Faso et du Niger la Charte du Liptako-Gourma instituant l’Alliance des États du Sahel (AES) ayant pour objectif d’établir une architecture de défense collective et d’assistance mutuelle au bénéfice de nos populations. pic.twitter.com/IjT43NHrKs

— Colonel Assimi GOITA (@GoitaAssimi) September 16, 2023

The agreement provides that any attack against the national sovereignty or territorial integrity of one or more contracting parties will be considered an attack against the remaining parties and, in turn, the provision of aid and rescue by all parties, individually or collectively, including the use of armed forces, to restore and guarantee security in the area covered by the alliance.

After the July 26 coup in Niger, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) demands that the military authorities immediately restore constitutional order by releasing and restoring to power the ousted President, Mohamed Bazoum.

The regional organization has repeatedly threatened military intervention and imposed heavy sanctions on Niger. The military regimes in Burkina Faso and Mali say that any military operation against Niger or themselves would be illegal and irrational and would lead to an immediate response from their side.

Ouagadougou and Bamako, ruled by military men who seized power in coups in 2022 and 2020 respectively, almost immediately expressed their solidarity with the generals in Niamey after the July coup.

Source: Euronews

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