President Tiani Visits Mali to Strengthen Sahel Security Cooperation

BAMAKO, Mali - Niger’s President, General Abdourahamane Tiani, conducted a friendship and working visit to Bamako on September 30, marking his second official trip to Mali since assuming power in July 2023.

The visit underscored the growing military and political coordination within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Following a one-on-one meeting with Malian President Assimi Goïta, the two leaders held an extended working session attended by senior officials, including the defense ministers of both nations.

Discussions centered on the fight against terrorism and the accelerating security deterioration across the Sahel. The two presidents agreed to fast-track the operationalization of the AES joint military force, a unified command structure designed to enhance coordinated counterterrorism operations.

President Tiani emphasized that the creation of joint battalions composed of Nigerien, Malian, and Burkinabè soldiers would represent a decisive step toward collective security and sovereignty in the region. The move reflects the alliance’s broader vision of self-reliant defense and regional stability free from external dependency.