AES nations reject Nigerian leader’s claims on Sahel insecurity

The Burkinabè Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Marie Traoré, summoned the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Embassy in Ouagadougou following remarks made by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu regarding alleged security challenges in the three nations of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

The meeting took place with the participation of the Chargés d’Affaires from Mali and Niger, both AES member states, to underscore a unified response from the Confederation. The incident traces back to July 30, when President Tinubu reportedly linked Nigeria’s rising terrorism and kidnapping incidents to insecurity in the AES region.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger reject simplistic security narrative

Speaking on behalf of the three AES nations, Minister Traoré expressed the alliance’s deep disappointment with Tinubu’s remarks, calling them “inaccurate and out of step with the spirit of solidarity” required among neighboring states facing a shared threat. He described the Nigerian leader’s assessment as “hasty, oversimplified, and surprising.”

“We expected a more nuanced presentation of the security situation,” Traoré stated. “Blame cannot be shifted to neighboring countries for a complex reality. Doing so risks deepening misunderstandings and frustrations between peoples bound by history, geography, and brotherhood.”

He emphasized that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are not the architects of their own security challenges. “We bear the consequences, but the true adversaries lie elsewhere. As brothers in adversity, we must stand united against a common enemy,” he declared.

The Burkinabè diplomat underscored that the AES’s response was not an act of confrontation, but a call for open dialogue. “Our goal is clear: foster sincere cooperation to overcome the region’s security challenges permanently,” he said.

The Nigerian Chargé d’Affaires, in acknowledging the AES message, praised the alliance’s commitment to dialogue and solidarity in combating terrorism. He also recognized the AES’s ongoing efforts in this critical fight.