The 2024 Global Terrorism Index shows that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger record the highest number of terrorism-related deaths in the region. Over the past 15 years, the Sahel has experienced a 1,266% surge in reported terrorist incidents.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have announced plans to create a joint military force of 5,000 soldiers to tackle armed groups operating in the region. The announcement was made on January 20 by Niger’s Defense Minister, General Salifou Mody, during an interview with the Nigerien state broadcaster RTN.

This specialized force will be equipped with ground, air, and intelligence resources and will operate across the territories of all three countries, members of the Sahel States Alliance (AES). According to Mody, the deployment is only “a matter of weeks.”

The initiative underscores the push for closer cooperation among these Sahel nations, which share a geographically strategic but deeply unstable region, plagued by years of insecurity.

The Sahel has been a hotspot for conflict for decades. In 2023 alone, nearly 4,000 deaths in the region were linked to terrorism, accounting for 47% of all terrorism-related fatalities worldwide, according to the 2024 Global Terrorism Index by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Over the past 15 years, the region has experienced a sharp increase in terrorism, with a 2,860% rise in deaths and a 1,266% increase in reported incidents.

The tri-border area, where Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger meet, has been hit particularly hard. Alongside frequent terrorist attacks, the region is rich in mineral resources, making it a key target for armed groups.

In 2022 and 2023, the three countries withdrew from the G5 Sahel, a regional coalition created to coordinate anti-terrorism efforts. They criticized the group for being politically influenced and institutionally cumbersome, arguing that it was ill-suited to address the urgent security crisis.

By forming the AES, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger hope to establish a more effective and flexible framework for cooperation. Joint operations to assess mutual capabilities and improve coordination are already underway, Mody said.

In a related move, Mali announced on January 20 the creation of a national military industry. This initiative aims to strengthen the AES by reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. Mody emphasized the importance of working together, saying, “We are in the same space. We face the same types of threats, in particular this threat from criminal groups”.