Top military leaders from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have convened in Ouagadougou for a high-level meeting aimed at boosting the effectiveness of their joint anti-terror force. The April 16–17 summit brings together chiefs of staff from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to adopt strategic guidelines for the Confederation’s 15,000-strong Unified Force. The meeting follows over a week of technical discussions by military experts, which produced recommendations focused on improving coordination, intelligence-sharing, and operational readiness.
Burkina Faso’s Chief of Staff, Moussa Diallo, said the decisions taken would directly shape military operations on the ground, particularly in addressing jihadist threats that continue to destabilize the Sahel region. He emphasized the need for a stronger command structure and rapid response capability across borders. The AES joint force was formed as part of a broader regional security strategy after the three countries withdrew from ECOWAS and intensified cooperation against armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The Sahel remains one of the world’s most volatile regions, with persistent attacks on civilians, military targets, and infrastructure. Officials say the outcome of the Ouagadougou meeting will be submitted to the heads of state of the three countries for final approval, marking a critical step toward fully operationalizing the unified force.
