Alliance of Sahel States

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Alliance of Sahel States
  • Hadin gwiwar jihohin Sahel (Hausa)
  • Sahel La’abai Ku’nda (Zarma)
  • Sahel jamanaw ka jɛɲɔgɔnya (Bambara)
  • Alliance des États du Sahel (French)
Formation16 September 2023;
7 months ago (2023-09-16)
Type Military alliance,
intergovernmental organization
Purpose Collective security
Region
Sahel
Membership
Leader Ibrahim Traoré [1]

The Alliance of Sahel States [2] (ASS [3] [4] [5] [lower-alpha 1] ) is a mutual defense pact [5] created between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso on 16 September 2023. [8] [9] The pact was created during the 2023 Nigerien crisis in which the West African political bloc ECOWAS threatened to intervene militarily to restore civilian rule after a coup in Niger earlier that year. [10] All of these three states were increasing ties to Russia during creation of the organization. As such Russia is presumed[ by whom? ] to be brokering this agreement. [11] [12] [13] EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell stated it led to a "new geopolitical configuration" in the region. [14]

Contents

The alliance's stated goal is to protect against possible threats of armed rebellion or external aggression by emphasizing that "any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracted parties will be considered an aggression against the other parties." [8]

This alliance is not to be confused with the Sahel Alliance (Alliance Sahel in French). [15]

Background

The Sahel has been the site of an ongoing jihadist insurgency since 2003, which has led to many conflicts in the region, such as the Mali War and the Boko Haram insurgency. All three member states have had their elected pro-Western governments overthrown by their militaries, and each is ruled by a junta as part of the Coup Belt. [16] In 2022, Mali withdrew from the internationally backed G5 Sahel alliance. Niger and Burkina Faso did so in 2023, leading to announcement of the dissolution of the framework by its last two members Chad and Mauritania three days later. [4]

In the 2020 Malian coup d'état, Assimi Goïta and the National Committee for the Salvation of the People seized power in Mali after overthrowing the elected president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. [17] Goïta later led a second coup in 2021 which deposed the interim president Bah Ndaw, who had been nominated to lead a transitional military government. [18]

Just months later, in the 2021 Guinean coup d'état the National Committee of Reconciliation and Development removed the elected Alpha Condé and installed Mamady Doumbouya as transitional president. [19]

A faction of Burkina Faso's military overthrew their existing military government in the September 2022 coup d'état, installing Ibrahim Traoré over Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who came to power in the January 2022 coup d'état which toppled the democratic government of President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. [20]

Most recently, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland removed the elected government of Niger's Mohamed Bazoum, installing Abdourahamane Tchiani and a new junta in the 2023 coup d'état. [21]

All three of the alliance's member states are suspended members of ECOWAS; after the coup in Niger, ECOWAS has threatened to intervene militarily and restore President Bazoum's government, which resulted in the Nigerien crisis. The Nigerien government has the backing of Mali and Burkina Faso, which promised military aid to Niger in the event of an intervention, and Guinea, which has been offering diplomatic support. The promises of military aid resulted in the creation of AES as a mutual defense bloc for the three nations in an attempt to stave off an ECOWAS intervention. [22] On 28 January 2024, the three countries announced via a joint statement that they were withdrawing from ECOWAS. [23]

The alliance aims to create an economic and monetary union with a proposed currency called the Sahel. [24]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Sometimes spelled AoSS [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ECOWAS</span> Intergovernmental economic union in West Africa

The Economic Community of West African States is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries located in West Africa. Collectively, these countries comprise an area of 5,114,162 km2 (1,974,589 sq mi) and have an estimated population of over 424.34 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liptako–Gourma Authority</span>

The Liptako–Gourma Authority is a regional organization seeking to develop the contiguous areas of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G5 Sahel</span> Organisation of the governments of Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Mali and Mauritania.

G5 Sahel or G5S is an institutional framework for coordination of regional cooperation in development policies and security matters in west Africa. It was created on 16 February 2014 in Nouakchott, Mauritania, at a summit of five Sahel countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. It adopted a convention of establishment on 19 December 2014, and is permanently seated in Mauritania. The coordination is organised on different levels. The military aspect is coordinated by the respective countries' Chiefs of Staff. The purpose of G5 Sahel was to strengthen the bond between economic development and security, and together battle the threat of jihadist organizations operating in the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assimi Goïta</span> President of Mali since 2021

Colonel Assimi Goïta is a Malian military officer who has been interim President of Mali since 28 May 2021. Goïta was the leader of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, a military force that seized power from former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in the 2020 Malian coup d'état. Goïta later seized power from Bah Ndaw in the 2021 Malian coup d'état and has since been declared interim president of Mali.

Events in the year 2021 in Mali.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jihadist insurgency in Niger</span> Civil conflict in Niger

Since 2015, the border area between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger has been a hotbed for jihadist forces originating from Mali. The insurgency has taken place in two distinct regions of Niger. In southwest, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and the Nusrat al-Islam have carried out attacks in the tri-border area with Burkina Faso and Mali. Meanwhile, in the southeast, the Islamic State in the West African Province has established control in parts of southern Niger.

The 2021 Malian coup d'état began on the night of 24 May 2021 when the Malian Army led by Vice President Assimi Goïta captured President Bah N'daw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane and Minister of Defence Souleymane Doucouré. Assimi Goïta, the head of the junta that led the 2020 Malian coup d'état, announced that N'daw and Ouane were stripped of their powers and that new elections would be held in 2022. It is the country's third coup d'état in ten years, following the 2012 and 2020 military takeovers, with the latter having happened only nine months earlier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamist insurgency in the Sahel</span> Insurgency throughout the Sahel and West Africa

An Islamist insurgency has been ongoing in the Sahel region of West Africa since the 2011 Arab Spring. In particular, the intensive conflict in the three countries of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso has been referred to as the Sahel War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">September 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état</span> Military coup détat in 2022

A coup d'état took place in Burkina Faso on 30 September 2022, removing Interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba over his alleged inability to deal with the country's Islamist insurgency. Damiba had come to power in a coup d'état eight months earlier. Captain Ibrahim Traoré took over as interim leader.

Events in the year 2023 in Mali.

On 26 July 2023, a coup d'état occurred in Niger when the country's presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum, and Presidential Guard commander General Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta, shortly after confirming the coup a success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coup Belt</span> Geopolitical neologism for an African region

The Coup Belt is a modern geopolitical concept and neologism which emerged during the 2020s to describe the region of West Africa, Central Africa and the Sahel that is home to countries with a high prevalence of coups d'état. After the 2023 Nigerien coup, these countries formed a continuous chain stretching between the east and west coasts of Africa.

This article lists events from the year 2023 in Niger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigerien crisis (2023–present)</span> International crisis following 2023 coup in Niger

On 26 July 2023, a coup d'état occurred in Niger, during which the country's presidential guard removed and detained President Mohamed Bazoum. Subsequently, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the Commander of the Presidential Guard, proclaimed himself the leader of the country and established the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, after confirming the success of the coup.

The Volunteers for the Defense of Niger is a civilian militia force to combat a potential military intervention by ECOWAS. It is on the side of Abdourahamane Tchiani and the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, the ruling military junta of Niger, during the 2023 Nigerien crisis.

The ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) is a standby arrangement made up of military, police and civilian components and which is consistent with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter which provides for regional peace and security arrangements. A partial legal basis is given by Article 21 of the ECOWAS Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security.

On 2 October 2023, 29 Nigerien soldiers were killed in the village of Tabatol, Niger. The soldiers were attacked by over 100 militants, who used IEDs and "kamikaze vehicles". The attack is the deadliest in the country since the coup d'état in July occurred.

Events in the year 2024 in Mali.

This article lists events from the year 2024 in Niger.

References

  1. ↑ "Military-ruled former French colonies forge NATO-style Alliance of Sahel States". WION. 17 September 2023.
  2. ↑ Gray, Sébastien (27 November 2023). "Burkina Faso Claims to Kill 400 Militants, as Militants Claim Victories". The Brief. Atlas News. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  3. ↑ "With ECOWAS exit, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger leave democratic transition in limbo". France24 . Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Chad, Mauritania pave way for dissolution of G5 Sahel alliance". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  5. 1 2 AFP (16 September 2023). "Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger sign mutual defense pact". Le Monde . Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "International Women's Day Celebrations With AES Women in New York". Embassy of the Republic of Mali in the Untited States of America . 9 March 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  7. ↑ Gray, Sébastien (27 November 2023). "Burkina Faso Claims to Kill 400 Militants, as Militants Claim Victories". The Brief. Atlas News. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso sign Sahel security pact". Reuters. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  9. ↑ Report, Agency (16 September 2023). "Mali, Niger, Burkina juntas sign mutual defence pact". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso establish Sahel security alliance". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  11. ↑ "Russia's Wagner Group expands into Africa's Sahel wit a new brand". CNBC. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  12. ↑ "West African coup juntas threaten to quit regional block: What it means". CNBC. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  13. ↑ "The Alliance of Sahel States: A regional crisis in troubled West Africa". Samir Bhattacharya. Observer Research Foundation. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  14. ↑ "Russia's Africa Corps - more than old wine in a new bottle | ISS Africa". Institute for Security Studies. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  15. ↑ The Sahel Alliance
  16. ↑ "ECOWAS Unity Put to Test as West African Coup Crisis Deepens". VOA. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  17. ↑ "Mali Coup Soldiers Take to Airwaves, Promise Elections". The New York Times. Associated Press. 19 August 2020. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  18. ↑ "Mali : Bah N'Daw démissionne, Assimi Goïta devient président". Jeune Afrique (in French). 26 May 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  19. ↑ Samb, Saliou (6 September 2021). "Elite Guinea army unit says it has toppled president". Reuters. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "Burkina : Ibrahim Traoré proclamé président, Damiba destitué". Jeune Afrique (in French). 30 September 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  21. ↑ "Niger general Tchiani named head of transitional government after coup". Al Jazeera . 28 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  22. ↑ "Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso sign Sahel security pact". Reuters. 16 September 2023. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  23. ↑ "Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger quit ECOWAS". Deutsche Welle. 28 January 2024. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  24. ↑ "ÉCONOMIE AFRIQUE DE L'OUEST Mali, Burkina, Niger : une monnaie commune est-elle crédible ?". Jeune Afrique (in French). 12 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
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