Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso will form an anti-jihadist “Joint Force”. The contours and numbers of this force have not been specified.
In Niger, Burkina and Mali, all facing recurring and deadly jihadist violence for years, civilian governments have been overthrown by successive military coups since 2020. These three countries, former French colonies, turned their backs on Paris and moved closer to new partners, including Russia, before coming together within the AES with the aim of creating a federation.