Burkina Faso’s Security Minister Mahamadou Sana has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening border security while preserving the free movement of people and goods within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). During a visit to western border areas with Mali on March 29–30, Sana toured key towns including Koloko and Faramana, critical transit points for trade and mobility. The visit comes as Burkina Faso continues to battle insurgent groups operating along its porous frontiers with Mali and Niger, where attacks on civilians, traders, and security forces have disrupted economic activity.
Addressing Defense and Security Forces, the minister stressed the need to secure strategic corridors without undermining livelihoods. He called for greater discipline and professionalism, urging officers to end extortion, harassment, and illegal checkpoints that have long burdened transporters and traders. Sana emphasized that improving intelligence sharing and coordination among security units is essential to counter armed groups and restore stability in border regions. He also urged Burkina Faso to set a standard within the AES by ensuring security operations respect citizens’ rights and facilitate commerce.
Local authorities welcomed the government’s renewed focus, expressing cautious optimism that tighter security combined with reforms could ease movement and revive cross-border trade seen as vital for economic recovery and regional integration. Burkina Faso, alongside Mali and Niger, has increasingly leaned on regional cooperation through the AES to address shared security threats while maintaining economic links across borders.
