Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali are preparing a joint force of 5,000 soldiers to combat terrorism and organized crime in the Sahel. Announced by Niger’s defence minister, General Salifou Mody, the force will include air, land, and intelligence capabilities. Formed under the 2023 Alliance of Sahel States, the initiative aims to address growing security threats in the region.

The military governments of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali are preparing to deploy a joint force of 5,000 soldiers to combat terrorism and transnational organized crime in the Sahel region, according to Niger’s defence minister. General Salifou Mody announced on state television that their forces are now capable of intervening together.

Mody stressed the importance of collaboration in confronting the threats posed by criminal groups in the Sahel, explaining that the 5,000-strong unified force is almost fully operational. He highlighted that the force would not only consist of personnel but also possess its own air, land, and intelligence capabilities.

The three nations formed the Alliance of Sahel States in September 2023, creating this joint military force to address the escalating security challenges posed by terrorist groups in the region. Mody described the Alliance of Sahel States as their "passport to security."