Top police officials from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger convened in Ouagadougou on Thursday for a high-level meeting aimed at strengthening security collaboration within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The gathering focused on establishing a unified approach to tackle pressing regional security challenges.
The session brought together senior police leaders and technical experts from the three nations to align policing strategies, enhance information-sharing systems, and boost operational readiness. Key priorities included improving judicial investigations, public order maintenance, and the deployment of advanced technological and forensic tools.
Addressing the opening session, Inspector General Thierry Dofizouho Tuina, Head of Burkina Faso‘s National Police, emphasized the critical role of law enforcement agencies in advancing the AES agenda. He noted that this gathering followed up on commitments made during the initial police chiefs’ meeting in Bamako earlier this year, as well as the July security ministerial conference.
Border security and cross-border mobility emerged as central topics. Police chiefs discussed streamlining border controls, enhancing intelligence exchange, and cracking down on illegal roadblock extortions that hinder trade and movement across the confederation’s territory.
Controller General Youssouf Koné, Mali’s top police official, highlighted the necessity of pooling resources to meet public security demands and foster the Alliance’s growth. Meanwhile, Commissioner General Assahaba Ebankawal of Niger stressed that deeper collaboration was essential to counter the rising tide of terrorist attacks, transnational crime, and other shared security threats afflicting the region.
The meeting concluded with plans to finalize actionable recommendations aimed at solidifying police cooperation within the AES framework.