Sahel States Reject Tinubu’s Claim That Bloc’s Crisis Is Worsening Nigeria’s Insecurity

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s claim that insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger is worsening Nigeria’s security challenges.

The AES comprises Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) before establishing their own regional bloc.

Tinubu had linked Nigeria’s security difficulties to instability in the three Sahelian countries, saying some terrorists operating in Nigeria were foreigners.

Speaking during a meeting with traditional rulers from Oyo State on July 31, the President said insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger had exacerbated Nigeria’s security challenges.

However, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, rejected the claim in a statement published on Friday.

Traoré said Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria were facing a common security threat and urged a more accurate assessment of the situation.

“Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria face the same enemy,” the minister said.

He said the AES countries would have preferred a factual account of the regional security situation instead of what he described as an attempt to blame neighbouring countries for a complex crisis.

“We would have preferred a more accurate presentation of the security situation, rather than placing the blame for a complex situation on neighbouring countries,” he said.

According to Traoré, such statements could fuel misunderstandings and tensions among countries with longstanding historical, geographical and cultural ties.

Representatives of the three AES countries, who met in Ouagadougou, also summoned Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires to express their disapproval of Tinubu’s remarks.

The AES representatives described the President’s comments as inaccurate and said they failed to recognise the efforts of security forces in the Sahel countries to combat armed groups.

The development comes amid persistent insecurity across the Sahel and neighbouring West African countries. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have faced years of attacks by jihadist and other armed groups, while Nigeria continues to battle insurgency, banditry and kidnapping.

Relations between Nigeria and the AES countries have become more complicated since their withdrawal from ECOWAS.

Despite the political differences, Tinubu has previously called for continued engagement with the three countries.

In May 2025, while receiving the credentials of Mali’s ambassador, the President said Nigeria remained willing to cooperate with Mali, describing the country as a brother nation.

He said no West African country could succeed in isolation and expressed Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate and exchange ideas with Mali.