A fresh wave of diplomatic friction has emerged between the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) member nations and Nigeria. The latest catalyst stems from remarks made by the Nigerian president, which have been met with strong disapproval in the capitals of Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou.

On July 30, during discussions with Nigerian traditional leaders, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reportedly linked a significant portion of the escalating insecurity and abduction incidents in Nigeria’s northern regions to terrorist factions originating from neighboring states. This assertion prompted a swift response from Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, who issued a communiqué on Friday, August 7. The statement underscored the shared threat of terrorism, declaring, “Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria confront the identical adversary.” Furthermore, the AES conveyed its profound disappointment regarding the Nigerian president’s comments.

The true adversaries lie elsewhere

Also on Friday, in Ouagadougou, delegates from the three AES nations convened to summon Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires. They expressed their strong condemnation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s statements, labeling them “inaccurate.” The Burkinabe foreign policy chief specifically contended that the Nigerian president’s declarations undermine the substantial counter-terrorism endeavors undertaken by the AES armed forces. He reiterated, “We bear no responsibility for these occurrences. The genuine adversaries are situated elsewhere.”

Over recent years, security conditions have significantly worsened across northwestern Nigeria, particularly along its shared frontier with Niger. Diplomatic relations between Abuja and its neighboring states previously faced considerable strain in 2023, following the coup d’état that ousted Mohamed Bazoum in Niamey.