Mali
The governments of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, united as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), confirmed late Thursday that their joint anti-jihadist forces executed “intense air campaigns” within Malian borders. This decisive action followed recent assaults by Tuareg separatists and jihadist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda.
Over the preceding weekend, Mali experienced its most significant offensive in nearly 15 years, spearheaded by jihadists and their Tuareg separatist allies. These coordinated attacks led to the capture of Kidal, a crucial northern town, and tragically resulted in the death of Defence Minister Sadio Camara.
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, neighboring West African nations, collectively form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This alliance established a combined force initially comprising 5,000 personnel to counter jihadist threats, a number that was subsequently expanded to 15,000 by mid-April.
Following a cabinet meeting on Thursday evening, Nigerien authorities expressed their commendation for “the swift and robust response from the unified force’s units… which conducted intense aerial operations in the hours following the cowardly attacks of April 25, 2026, in Gao, Menaka, and Kidal.”
Hours after the initial attacks, Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, spokesperson for the Malian Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front, had urged Burkina Faso and Niger “to remain uninvolved in the ongoing events in Mali.”
All three AES member states are currently governed by military juntas, having come to power through coups occurring between 2020 and 2023.
These recent attacks against the Malian military junta and its Russian paramilitary supporters have plunged the former French colony into a severe security crisis.
At Minister Camara’s funeral on Thursday, Burkina Faso’s Defence Minister Celestin Simpore, speaking on behalf of the AES, solemnly pledged to “hunt down” the “assassins.”
‘Solidarity’
On the same day, approximately one thousand individuals gathered in Niamey, the capital of Niger, to demonstrate “solidarity with the Malian people,” as shown in live social media broadcasts of the event.
Attendees at the Djado Sekou Cultural Center chanted slogans such as “down with the imperialists,” “down with the terrorists and their sponsors,” and “long live the AES,” while a photograph of Camara was prominently displayed.
Effred Mouloul, a representative from the coalition of civil society groups organizing the gathering, conveyed a message to the Malian people: “You are not alone; the active forces of Niger and the AES stand united with you and extend their full and unwavering solidarity.”
Mouloul criticized African leaders for a “total lack of visible solidarity in the face of the targeted assassination” of Malian leaders and advocated for the withdrawal of French military presence from AES territories.
Nigerien authorities have previously accused external powers, particularly France, of sponsoring the weekend’s attacks in Mali. Niger has also repeatedly accused France of attempts to destabilize the nation, allegations which Paris denies.
For security considerations, the government of Niger has canceled all 1 May parades across the country.