The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, executed intense aerial operations within Malian borders in response to coordinated jihadist and Tuareg separatist offensives, as announced by Niger’s government late Thursday.
Over the weekend, armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and Tuareg rebels launched the most significant assault on Mali in over a decade. The offensive resulted in the capture of the strategic northern city of Kidal and the tragic killing of Defence Minister Sadio Camara.
The AES, a coalition formed by the three nations, operates a unified military force initially consisting of 5,000 troops, later expanded to 15,000 in mid-April. This force was deployed to counter the escalating threats posed by extremist factions across the region.
Niger’s authorities issued a statement commending the swift and robust countermeasures taken by the AES joint force. “The prompt aerial campaigns conducted in Gao, Menaka, and Kidal in the aftermath of the April 25, 2026, attacks demonstrate decisive action against these acts of aggression,” the statement read following an emergency cabinet meeting.
In contrast, the Azawad Liberation Front, a Malian Tuareg rebel group, urged Burkina Faso and Niger to avoid interference in Mali’s internal affairs shortly after the violence erupted.
Each member of the AES is governed by military juntas that seized power through coups between 2020 and 2023. The recent attacks targeting Mali’s military leadership and its Russian paramilitary allies have deepened the country’s ongoing security emergency, further straining stability in the region.
At Sadio Camara’s funeral, Burkina Faso’s Defence Minister, Celestin Simpore, speaking on behalf of the AES, pledged to “pursue and neutralize the perpetrators,” referring to them as “assassins.”
regional solidarity amid crisis
Approximately a thousand demonstrators gathered in Niamey, Niger’s capital, to voice support for Mali on the same day. Social media footage captured the event, where attendees chanted slogans such as “death to imperialists,” “down with terrorists and their supporters,” and “long live the AES.” A portrait of the late Defence Minister Camara was prominently displayed.
Effred Mouloul, a spokesperson for the coalition organizing the protest, declared, “To the people of Mali, we affirm: you are not alone. The active forces of Niger and the AES stand with you, offering unwavering solidarity.” He criticized African leaders for failing to demonstrate adequate support in the wake of the targeted assassinations of Mali’s officials and demanded the removal of French military presence from AES territories.
Niger’s government has repeatedly accused France of orchestrating the weekend attacks in Mali, a claim France has consistently denied. Additionally, Niger has accused France of attempting to destabilize its government, further straining diplomatic relations.
In light of the heightened security risks, Niger’s authorities announced the cancellation of all May 1st parade events nationwide.
