A year has passed since the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, formalized its charter and established its confederation. Yet, questions persistently arise regarding its ability to deliver on its core pledge: mutual defense. In the wake of recent security escalations and significant jihadist attacks impacting Nigerien territory, the noticeable absence of a joint armed intervention has sparked concern among local populations and regional observers alike. This operational inertia on the ground in Niger can be attributed to several underlying structural and strategic factors.
National Armies Under Immense Strain
A primary impediment is the sheer overextension of national armed forces. Each member nation of the alliance confronts intense security threats within its own borders:
- In Mali: The military and its partners remain heavily concentrated on maintaining control across the northern and central regions, battling groups like the JIM (Cadre stratégique permanent) and affiliates of Al-Qaïda.
- In Burkina Faso: Over half of the nation’s landmass endures relentless pressure from persistent terrorist assaults. This ongoing Burkina security challenge is frequently highlighted in Burkina Faso news today, underscoring the severe strain on its forces.
- In Niger: Forces are simultaneously tasked with securing the volatile Liptako-Gourma “three-borders” region against the Groupe de soutien à l’islam et aux musulmans (GSIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS), while also monitoring the Lake Chad basin.
Given these demanding circumstances, none of the three states possesses adequate strategic reserves to deploy a substantial contingent to a neighboring country without critically undermining its own domestic security apparatus.
Logistical Challenges of the Joint Force
Even though the political imperative to unify forces was agreed upon during AES Confederation summits, the practical establishment of this joint force encounters significant material obstacles:
- Interoperability and command: Harmonizing diverse military doctrines and constructing an integrated command structure demands considerable time and robust, secure communication networks.
- Air support and intelligence: Projecting troops across the vast distances of the Sahel necessitates substantial armored transport, consistent resupply, and critical aerial intelligence capabilities, including drones and combat aviation. These resources are currently limited and are already heavily engaged in local operations within each nation.
The Role of External Partnerships
The departure of traditional military forces, notably France and the UN mission MINUSMA, prompted the three military regimes to pivot their partnerships towards Russia. This shift has included the deployment of the Africa Corps paramilitary group. However, these supporting forces primarily operate under bilateral agreements and are not principally mandated to conduct cross-border operations specifically under the AES banner.
A Strategic Emphasis on Intelligence
Beyond large-scale troop deployments, AES authorities highlight an alternative mode of cooperation: intelligence sharing and targeted, punctual operations along borders. For the general staffs across the Sahel, intervention is not always envisioned as a massive, visible deployment. Instead, it often manifests as coordinated actions within the critical “three-borders” zone, where each national army primarily operates from its own sovereign territory.
