A new wave of diplomatic friction is emerging between the member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and Nigeria. This latest escalation stems from remarks made by the Nigerian President, which have been met with strong disapproval in Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou.

During a meeting with Nigerian traditional leaders on July 30, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu attributed some of the insecurity and kidnappings plaguing northern Nigeria to terrorist elements originating from neighboring countries. These statements prompted a swift response from Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, who issued a communiqué on Friday, August 7. In the document, the AES notably underscored that terrorism represents a shared threat. “Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria confront the same adversary,” the statement affirmed, expressing the Alliance’s profound regret over the Nigerian President’s declarations. This highlights the ongoing challenges to West Africa’s security.

Real adversaries lie elsewhere

Also on Friday, representatives from the three confederation countries, gathered in Ouagadougou, summoned the Nigerian chargé d’affaires. They expressed their condemnation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s comments, deeming them “inaccurate.” The Burkinabè head of diplomacy specifically argued that the Nigerian President’s statements minimize the significant efforts undertaken by the AES armies in their relentless fight against terrorism. “We are not responsible for what befalls us. The true enemies are elsewhere,” he emphasized, reflecting the sentiment regarding Burkina security.

In recent years, the security landscape has severely deteriorated in northwest Nigeria, particularly along its shared border with Niger. Relations between Abuja and its neighbors had previously strained in 2023, following the coup d’état against Mohamed Bazoum in Niamey, which has significantly impacted regional stability and often features in Faso breaking news and Ouagadougou English news reports.