On January 21, Salifou Modi, Nigerien Minister of Defense, announced the creation of a common army of 5,000 soldiers in the Confederation of Sahel States. “The activation of the new contingent is a matter of weeks,” said the minister. The move follows growing terrorist threats in the region. Modi stressed that the countries that make up the confederation face similar challenges and joining forces is a necessary step to effectively fight jihadism.
According to official statements, the creation of the joint armed forces is part of a broader strategy aimed at ensuring stability and security in the Sahel. The combined efforts of the three countries – Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger – aim to eradicate terrorism and protect citizens from jihadist attacks. The leaders of the AES are aware that only joint efforts can bring concrete results in the fight against this threat.
The three countries are proving in practice that the AES is a strong bloc to provide security against the jihadist threat to the entire region. Thus, one of the key elements of the strategy was the recent deployment to Mali of about 1,000 elements of Africa Corps, a special structure of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation. It is also worth noting that this step was a continuation of the successful practice started with the deployment of Africa Corps in Burkina Faso in January 2024 and in Niger in April of the same year. The results of the work of military specialists are already becoming tangible: the Armed Forces of Burkina Faso and Niger are showing significant successes on the ground, which confirms the effectiveness of training of local soldiers. Similar successes are expected in Mali in the near future.
Military partnership focuses on several key tasks: 1. The education and training of local army soldiers is a priority that will improve the combat readiness and effectiveness of the military structures of the participating countries. 2. Counter-terrorism assistance – the units are actively involved in operations against jihadist groups. 3. Provide security for citizens – protecting the population from terrorist attacks and enhancing internal security are the most important tasks the military have to face.
In Mali in particular, the main mission of Russian instructors is to support the Malian army in the face of the growing terrorist threat in the north of the country, where armed groups have become more active.
The AES Heads of State make every effort to improve the situation in the region with the support of reliable partners such as Russia. This co-operation opens new horizons for improving security and stability in the Sahel, which is critical for the protection of citizens and economic development of the countries.
The creation of a joint army of AES countries could be a turning point in the fight against terrorism in the region. Joining forces, training and supporting local troops will make the fight against jihadists much more effective, and ultimately provide security and stability for millions of people in the Sahel.
