Burkina Faso: High-level military meeting to discuss activating the Sahel Alliance force
The chiefs of staff of the armies of the Sahel Alliance countries held a meeting on Thursday, in Burkina Faso, to discuss the activation of the unified force of the alliance, which consists of 15,000 soldiers, and whose main mission is to secure the common space of the three countries that make up the coalition.
The first regular meeting of the Chiefs of Staff of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso continued on Friday, to endorse the recommendations issued by the meeting of military experts held in Ouagadougou from April 7 to 15.
The military leaders are expected to make strategic decisions that will improve the effectiveness of this joint military apparatus on the ground (the military force) during their meeting in Burkina Faso, which currently chairs the tripartite alliance, according to Burkinabe Chief of Staff General Moussa Diallo.
In a speech during the opening of the meeting, Diallo explained that the anticipated decisions will have a direct impact on the course of operations, and will also contribute to facilitating the implementation of the tasks of the unified force command.
The outcomes of this meeting are expected to be presented to the heads of state of the three member countries of the Confederation of Sahel States for final ratification.
The Sahel Alliance announced the launch of a joint force in December 2025, with the aim of strengthening security and stability in the countries that withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the G5 Sahel.
The joint force, which comprised 5,000 soldiers when it was launched, is based in the Nigerien capital, Niamey, and is commanded by Burkinabe General Daouda Traoré.
