The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu for his recent comment that insecurity in neighbouring countries is exacerbating Nigeria’s security challenges. In a statement delivered by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Traore, the AES described the remark as “simplistic,” “hasty,” and an unfair trivialisation of the efforts made by Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso in combating terrorism in the Sahel region.
Tinubu’s comment sparks diplomatic row
President Tinubu made the remark last week during a discussion about the military operation that rescued kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oyo State. He linked Nigeria’s growing insecurity and the resurgence of kidnapping to the security situation in its Sahel neighbours. “Some of them (the terrorists) are not Nigerian. You see, the problem of insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger only exacerbates our difficulties,” he said.
The AES responded by summoning the Nigerian Chargé d’Affaires to a meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Thursday. At the meeting, Mr Traore stated that Tinubu’s “surprising” comment downplayed the sacrifice of the three countries in the fight against armed groups. He also claimed it minimised the role played by the Nigerien army in the fight against Boko Haram.
AES defends its record
Mr Traore pointed out that Niamey was already facing the Boko Haram threat even before large-scale terrorist insecurity emerged in the other countries of the Alliance. He emphasised that Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria are all facing the same enemy. “We would have preferred a more accurate presentation of the security situation, rather than placing the blame for a complex situation on neighbouring countries, at the risk of fuelling misunderstandings and frustrations between peoples bound by history, geography, and fraternity,” the minister said.
Strained relations and security cooperation
Nigeria’s relations with Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have been fraught since the 2023 military coup in Niger and the subsequent deterioration of relations between the AES and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The three countries officially exited ECOWAS in early 2025, after a year-long effort by the bloc to convince them to reconsider. The juntas in all three nations accused ECOWAS of failing to support them in their fight against terrorism and of imposing sanctions that harmed their populations.
Due to the strained relations, security cooperation has suffered, particularly along Nigeria’s borders with the three Sahelian countries. The fragmentation of regional security arrangements has made intelligence sharing, joint operations, and cross-border coordination more difficult.
Nigeria seeks cooperation
Despite the tension, the Nigerian government has been pushing for cooperation with the AES to counter cross-border criminal networks. Last week, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, called for joint regional action between the AES and ECOWAS to combat insurgency in West Africa. Mr Musa stated that confronting West Africa’s complex security landscape requires an inclusive, coordinated front.
