Nigeria strengthens military ties with breakaway Sahel states amid insecurity
Nigeria aligns collaboratively with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to address regional security concerns.
Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa emphasized the importance of defense cooperation across porous borders.
Nigeria maintains its commitment to regional cooperation amidst evolving geopolitical dynamics.
Speaking at the University of Ibadan during a lecture organised by the TETFUND Centre of Excellence in Security Management, Musa affirmed that the military alliance between Nigeria and the Sahel states remains active despite political tensions and recent withdrawals from regional blocs.
He highlighted that the increasing fragility of state security, compounded by porous borders, has made cross-border cooperation not only necessary but urgent.
According to The Guardian Nigeria, Musa noted that Nigeria cannot afford to be isolated in the fight against transnational threats.
He warned that instability in neighbouring countries, if left unaddressed, could spill into Nigeria's territory. 'If we don't help them to stand strong, the effect will come on us,' he said.
To tackle one of the most pressing issues of border insecurity Musa renewed his call for the fencing of key sections of Nigeria's borders.
He described the initiative as a strategic and intentional move that Nigeria must adopt, referencing Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan as examples of nations that have implemented effective border fortifications to safeguard national security.
While political developments may have altered regional alliances, Musa asserted that military cooperation continues undeterred. He stated, 'Politically, the three countries of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso may have exited, but militarily we still work together. '
He noted that crises such as climate-driven migration, terrorism, and economic disparity have created fertile ground for instability, particularly in already fragile states like Nigeria.
Nigeria embraces 'big brother' role
Amid the unravelling of traditional regional alliances in West Africa, Nigeria is reinforcing its role as a stabilising force by deepening diplomatic and military engagement with the breakaway Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Despite the trio's formal exit from ECOWAS in early 2025 and their increasing pivot away from Western influence, Nigeria has resisted isolating its northern neighbours. Instead, it has adopted a pragmatic approach—one that prioritises security collaboration over political estrangement.
The AES bloc—comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—emerged after the trio's joint withdrawal from ECOWAS in early 2025, marking a major shift in regional alliances. While the bloc has strengthened ties and rejected Western influence, Nigeria has opted to stay engaged, aiming to preserve its leadership role.
In an earlier report by Business Insider Africa, Nigeria's Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, reaffirmed Abuja's commitment to regional cooperation, stressing that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger remain crucial to West Africa's economic future despite their exit from ECOWAS.
Analysts argue that Nigeria's deep ties and shared borders make disengagement untenable.
With jihadist insurgencies, arms trafficking, and humanitarian crises spilling across borders, Abuja appears determined to sustain operational links with the AES states—even outside traditional multilateral frameworks.
Whether this deepening engagement leads to lasting realignment or remains a temporary response to crisis is still uncertain. For now, Nigeria is positioning itself as both mediator and partner in a region increasingly defined by fragmentation and uncertainty.
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