Sahel security — Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have issued a formal response rejecting recent statements made by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who linked Nigeria’s rise in kidnappings and terrorist attacks to what he called a collapse of security in neighboring Sahel countries. Tinubu made these comments on July 30, 2026, during a meeting with Nigerian traditional leaders. He asserted that the insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger was worsening Nigeria’s own security situation, stating, “Some of them (the terrorists) are not Nigerians. You see, the problem of insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger only aggravates our difficulties.”

Following these remarks, Burkina Faso’s foreign minister, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, summoned the chargé d’affaires from the Nigerian embassy to Ouagadougou. Traoré was joined by his counterparts from Mali and Niger, representing the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), to deliver a joint message expressing the deep regret of the three countries over Tinubu’s statements. The meeting and the collective reaction were publicly announced by Burkina Faso’s foreign ministry on August 7, 2026.

The authorities of the AES described Tinubu’s comments as inaccurate and inconsistent with the spirit of solidarity expected among states facing terrorism. According to the joint statement, the three countries believe that such remarks diminish the sacrifices made by the armed forces and populations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in their ongoing fight against armed terrorist groups. The AES officials emphasized that their countries have been making significant efforts and sacrifices to combat insecurity, and they argued that these contributions should not be overlooked or minimized by neighboring states.

During the meeting, Traoré advocated for public statements that promote cooperation and shared responsibility among West African nations. He highlighted that military successes achieved by AES countries have positive effects for the entire sub-region, not just for the countries directly involved. The message conveyed by the three Sahel states was clear in its call for mutual respect and recognition of each country’s efforts in the fight against terrorism.

The Nigerian diplomat present at the meeting acknowledged the concerns raised by the AES representatives. He commended the efforts of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in combating terrorism and assured those present that he would report the message to officials in Abuja.