Air force chiefs of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger meeting in Bamako have laid the foundations for an integrated air defense system within the Confederation of Sahel States, amid growing regional tensions.
For the first time, the air force chiefs of the three members of the AES, held an official meeting from April 13 to 17 in Bamako chaired by General Oumar Diarra, Chief of the General Staff of the Malian
Armed Forces.
It marked a key step in the implementation of a common security strategy between the three Sahel nations.
Focused on the theme “Air Cooperation within the AES: Towards Integrated Defense and Strengthened Sovereignty,” the talks helped define the contours of a regional military doctrine based on air power. Equipment interoperability, coordinated cross-border strikes, intelligence sharing, and joint pilot training are among the priorities.
“Air power is now an essential tool for responding quickly and precisely to asymmetric threats in the tri-border area,” the military officials emphasised, welcoming the recent results achieved in the fight against armed groups through joint operations.
Beyond the operational structure, this dynamic reflects a strong desire to break with old forms of military assistance. The AES aims to build an autonomous defense, free from external support, and strengthen the sovereignty of member states in the conduct of their security policies.
This meeting comes at a time when relations between Bamako and Algiers are at their lowest. On March 31, the Algerian army claimed to have shot down a Malian drone accused of violating its airspace.
Bamako denied this, maintaining that the aircraft was flying within Malian airspace on a routine mission. Since then, both capitals have recalled their respective ambassadors and closed their airspace.
In support of the Malian authorities, Ouagadougou and Niamey also recalled their ambassadors to Algiers.
Algeria responded by recalling its ambassadors to Mali and Niger and suspending the imminent dispatch of an envoy to Burkina Faso.
This dispute adds to deeper differences. Algiers criticises Mali’s current security strategy, notably the increased use of armed drones and renewed military alliances. In return, the Malian authorities
accuse Algeria of complacency toward certain armed groups in the north and of interfering in Tuareg politics.
Against this tense context, the activation of structured air cooperation within the AES sends a clear message: the Sahelian states now intend to take charge of their security without external help.
MD/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA