Mali, Burkina Faso, And Niger Sign Mutual Defense Treaty

Three countries of the Sahel zone, former French colonies and participants in recent coups, have signed an agreement on mutual assistance in the event of aggression. The document was signed in Bamako, the capital of Mali, and received its name from the region located on the border between the countries: Liptako-Gourma Charter for the association defined as the “Alliance of Sahel States” (AES). The agreement concerns economics and issues of cooperation, also providing mutual assistance in the event of military aggression, as well as the fight against terrorism, since various jihadist forces operate in the area.

Of particular interest is Article 6: “All attacks on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracting parties will be considered as attacks on all parties and will entail the obligation to provide assistance to all parties, including the use of armed force to restore and ensure security in the territory controlled by the Union.”

It was these three states, along with Chad and Mauritania, that at one time formed the G5 Sahel Regional Cooperation Group, back then supported by France, the purpose of which was to create a barrier against al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS). Today, France’s influence in the region is at its lowest level: Paris has already withdrawn its armed forces from Burkina Faso and Mali, while Niger is experiencing a situation that is still not clearly defined after the August coup.