Diplomatic relations between the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and Nigeria have deteriorated once again, this time over differing views on counter-terrorism strategies. The latest dispute stems from remarks made by Nigeria’s president during a meeting with traditional leaders on July 30, where he suggested that cross-border terrorism from neighboring countries contributed to insecurity in northern Nigeria.

The accusation drew an immediate response from Burkina Faso’s foreign minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, who issued a public statement on August 7. In the communiqué, he emphasized that terrorism is a shared threat. « The Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria are united against the same enemy », the document stated, while expressing strong disapproval of the Nigerian president’s remarks.

« The real enemies lie elsewhere »

On the same day, representatives from the three AES countries convened in Ouagadougou to summon Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires. They condemned Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s statements as « inaccurate » and accused his comments of undermining the counter-terrorism efforts of the AES coalition. The Burkinabè diplomat went further, declaring, « We are not responsible for our own suffering. The real enemies are elsewhere », suggesting that external forces may be fueling regional instability.

Tensions have been rising along Nigeria’s northwestern border with Niger, where security has significantly deteriorated in recent years. Diplomatic relations between Abuja and its Sahel neighbors soured in 2023 following the coup in Niamey that ousted Mohamed Bazoum.