West African Sahel States, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, all currently under military rule, have signed a security pact on Saturday. This pact pledges mutual support in the event of rebellion or external aggression.

These three nations have been grappling with the presence of Islamic insurgent groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State. Additionally, their relationships with neighbouring countries and international partners have been strained due to the recent coups.

The most recent coup in Niger exacerbated tensions between these three nations and the countries in the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ECOWAS has threatened to use force to restore constitutional rule in Niger.

Mali and Burkina Faso have committed to assisting Niger if it faces an attack. The pact, known as the Alliance of Sahel States, states that any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more of the signatory parties will be considered aggression against all of them. The signatory states will provide assistance individually or collectively, which may include the use of armed force.

Mali's junta leader, Assimi Goita, announced the establishment of the Alliance of Sahel States via his social media account, stating, “I have today signed with the Heads of State of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptako-Gourma charter establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, with the aim of establishing a collective defence and mutual assistance framework.”

All three nations were previously members of the France-supported G5 Sahel alliance joint force, which also included Chad and Mauritania. The alliance was launched in 2017 to combat Islamist groups in the region. However, Mali left the alliance after a military coup, and Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum declared the force “dead” following Mali's departure in May of the previous year.

Relations between France and these three states have deteriorated since the coups. France has withdrawn its troops from Mali and Burkina Faso and is engaged in a tense standoff with the junta that seized power in Niger. The junta requested the withdrawal of French troops and its ambassador, a request that France has refused to acknowledge.