At a forum held in Senegal, representatives from Niger and Mali accused some neighboring countries of providing indirect support to terrorist groups operating in the Sahel region, marking a new escalation in regional tensions.
Niger's Foreign Minister, Bakary Yaou Sangare, specifically mentioned external complicity which, according to him, is exacerbating security instability. These statements come amid a diplomatic breakdown between several Sahelian states and regional organizations.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger left the West African regional bloc last year, stating their intention to redefine their security and political cooperation. This break has profoundly reshaped the balance of power in the fight against jihadist groups.
On the Malian side, the authorities reaffirmed that this withdrawal was "definitive," while leaving the door open to occasional forms of cooperation with their neighbors. This position reflects a desire for greater sovereignty but complicates regional coordination efforts.
The central Sahel has faced chronic insecurity for over a decade, with regular attacks by armed groups affiliated with jihadist organizations. The lack of a common strategy among the countries of the region could further weaken the fight against these threats.
These public accusations risk exacerbating divisions between West African states, at a time when regional cooperation appears more essential than ever to contain the expansion of terrorist groups in the area.
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