US signals new approach in West Africa
The United States has announced a stark policy shift towards three West African countries battling Islamist insurgents: Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The countries’ military governments have broken defence ties with France and increasingly turned towards Russia.
Nick Checker, head of the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, will visit Mali’s capital Bamako to convey Washington’s “respect for Mali’s sovereignty” and chart a “new course” in relations, moving “past policy missteps”. The US also aims to co-operate with Mali’s allies on shared security and economic interests, though democracy and human rights concerns are notably absent from the agenda.
Shift from democracy to security and resources
The Biden administration previously halted military cooperation after coups deposed elected civilian leaders between 2020 and 2023. Niger’s Mohamed Bazoum remains under house arrest. The new policy reflects a continuation of the trend started under Donald Trump, with USAID shuttered and development and governance sidelined in favour of security and resource priorities.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger now receive explicit US recognition of sovereignty, a message likely to resonate with military leaders who have promoted pan-Africanist themes and rejected former colonial power France. Burkina Faso’s Capt Ibrahim Traoré, for example, has gained popularity across the continent for opposing “imperialism” and “neo-colonialism”.
Focus on jihadist threats
The US remains concerned about jihadist groups in the Sahel, a semi-arid region south of the Sahara accounting for roughly half of all terrorism deaths worldwide. In the “tri-border region” where Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger converge, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) is particularly active. Last week, an attack on Niamey airport in Niger highlighted the continuing threat.
While most casualties are local, the US fears the emergence of safe havens that could facilitate regional or global terrorism. Africom, the US military’s Africa Command, provides intelligence support and may supply weapons, though there are no plans to redeploy large troop contingents.
Strategic mineral interests
The Sahel is also strategically important for minerals. Mali produces lithium, and Niger has major uranium reserves. Niger’s military government has seized the country’s main uranium mine from French operator Orano, seeking Russia as a new partner. The US policy shift ensures Washington maintains a role in the region and prevents Russia from becoming the sole external security provider.
Russia currently has around 1,000 security contractors in Mali, with smaller contingents in Burkina Faso and Niger. Allegations of abuse by Russian forces have emerged, particularly in Mali. Washington appears willing to tolerate Moscow’s presence as long as it balances US influence.
Regional dynamics and the Alliance of Sahel States
Following coups, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger withdrew from the West African bloc Ecowas, forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). With Ecowas no longer responsible for their governance, the US and remaining member states focus on practical co-operation to combat Islamist insurgency.
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), also referred to as the Confederation of Sahel States or AES Confederation, is a coalition comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso in Africa’s Sahel region. It began as a mutual defence agreement on 16 September 2023 in response to the 2023 Nigerien crisis, when ECOWAS threatened military action following a coup in Niger earlier that year. All three countries are former ECOWAS members currently governed by military juntas, following successive coups: Mali in 2021, Burkina Faso in September 2022, and Niger in 2023. The confederation was formally established on 6 July 2024.
Despite US support, analysts stress that military measures alone cannot restore peace. France’s decade-long operations in the Sahel demonstrated that security interventions must be paired with social and economic development in one of the world’s poorest regions.
US approach prioritises pragmatism
Officials stress that Washington’s strategy does not entail large-scale troop deployments, aligning with Trump’s promise to end “forever wars” overseas. Instead, the US will provide intelligence, occasional training teams, and potentially weapons to address immediate threats while respecting the sovereignty of the three countries’ militaries.
Source: BBC
Also read: Burkina Faso political parties banned by ruling junta
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
