NIAMEY, Niger: Military commanders in junta-controlled Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso announced on Wednesday the creation of a joint force to fight the long-running jihadist insurgencies raging in the countries.
In a statement after talks in Niamey, Niger’s army chief, Moussa Salaou Barmou, said the new force “will begin operations as soon as possible, taking into account the security challenges in our region.”
“We are convinced that, with the combined efforts of our three countries, we will manage to create the conditions for a shared security,” Barmou added.
Although the size of the joint force has not been disclosed, Barmou said the three services have agreed to develop an “operational concept” that will allow them to achieve their defence and security objectives.
The announcement is the latest to bring closer ties between the three neighbours, which have cut ties with former colonial power and traditional security ally France in favour of Russia.
Last year, the two countries joined the Sahel Community diplomatic bloc in an attempt to form a federation, and in January announced their intention to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc.
Since 2020, ECOWAS has imposed sanctions on all three countries for toppling democratically elected governments in a series of coups.
Anger at the civilian government for failing to prevent violence by insurgent jihadists aligned with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State played an important role in the military occupation.
Jihadi insurgencies in northern Mali began in 2012 and spread to neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015.
The escalating violence is estimated to have killed thousands and displaced millions across the region.
