The Sahel states alliance: why concrete intervention in Niger proves challenging

A year has passed since the formal establishment of its charter and the creation of its confederation, yet the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, frequently faces scrutiny regarding its capacity to fulfill its central pledge: mutual defense. In light of recent security escalations and extensive jihadist assaults impacting Nigerien territory, the noticeable absence of a joint armed intervention has prompted questions among local populations and regional observers alike.

Several foundational and strategic elements contribute to this operational inertia on the ground in Niger.

National armies face overwhelming local threats

The primary constraint remains the overextension of national armed forces. Each member of the alliance is grappling with intense security threats within its own borders:

• In Mali: The national army and its allies are primarily focused on maintaining control over the northern and central regions, confronting the JIM (Permanent Strategic Framework and groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda).
• In Burkina Faso: More than half of the national territory endures persistent pressure from ongoing terrorist attacks.
• In Niger: The armed forces must concurrently secure the critical tri-border region (Liptako-Gourma) against the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS), while also monitoring the volatile Lake Chad basin.

Within this complex operational environment, none of the three states possess sufficient strategic reserves to project a significant military contingent into a neighboring country without compromising their own national security apparatus.

Logistical hurdles for a joint force

While the political decision to unify forces was formalized during the AES Confederation summits, the practical execution of this joint force encounters significant material challenges:

• Interoperability and command: Harmonizing disparate military doctrines and establishing a truly integrated chain of command demands considerable time, alongside the development of secure communication networks.
• Air support and intelligence: Projecting troops over vast distances across the Sahel mandates substantial armored transport capabilities, robust resupply chains, and comprehensive aerial intelligence (including drones and fighter aircraft). These crucial assets are currently limited and heavily committed to local operations.

The evolving role of external partners

The departure of traditional military forces, notably France and the UN mission MINUSMA, prompted the three military regimes to pivot their partnerships, notably towards Russia, exemplified by the deployment of the paramilitary Africa Corps. However, these support forces are predominantly deployed under bilateral agreements and are not primarily mandated to conduct cross-border operations under the collective banner of the AES.

A strategic pivot towards intelligence sharing

Beyond the deployment of large-scale ground troops, AES authorities are emphasizing an alternative form of cooperation: enhanced intelligence sharing and targeted, punctual operations along shared borders. For the Sahelian military command structures, intervention does not necessarily manifest as a large, visible deployment but rather as coordinated actions within the three-border area, where each army primarily operates from its own territory to address specific threats. This approach reflects a pragmatic adaptation to current African current affairs and the unique security landscape.