West African Junta Chiefs gain growing regional support

CHANNELS TV 

A mere 18 months ago, West African leaders considered military intervention to stop Niger from falling under the sway of a junta following a coup.

Now, some of those nations are warming to Niger and its military-led allies Mali and Burkina Faso, who in the meantime have forged ever closer ties.

After overthrowing civilian governments between 2020 and 2023, Mali, Burkina and Niger have created the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a defence pact formed after they announced they were quitting regional West African bloc, ECOWAS.

Their departure from the Economic Community of West African States takes effect on January 29, yet the three countries — all key players in the vast Sahel region where jihadists are gaining ground — appear to be far from isolated.