Sahel States Criticise Tinubu’s Remarks on Regional Insecurity
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have formally expressed concern over recent comments by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu regarding the security situation in the Sahel, describing his remarks as inaccurate and overly simplistic.
The three countries, which form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), summoned Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires in Ouagadougou to convey their position. They argued that the statement attributed rising insecurity in Nigeria partly to the breakdown of security in neighbouring Sahel nations, a claim they rejected.
Tinubu had earlier suggested that instability in the Sahel had contributed to worsening security challenges in Nigeria, particularly in relation to terrorism and cross-border threats.
In response, officials from the Sahel bloc maintained that such an assessment overlooks the efforts and sacrifices made by their security forces and citizens in combating insurgency within their territories. They stressed that insecurity in the region is a shared challenge requiring cooperation rather than the allocation of blame.
The countries also noted that they expected a more balanced perspective from Nigeria, given its role as a key regional actor facing similar threats. They emphasised the importance of collaboration in addressing terrorism and other forms of transnational crime.
Nigeria’s diplomatic representative acknowledged the concerns raised and indicated that the message would be communicated to authorities in Abuja. The envoy also recognised ongoing efforts by the Sahel countries in counterterrorism operations, including actions that have helped prevent attacks beyond their borders.
The development highlights underlying tensions between Nigeria and the AES members, which have increasingly pursued independent security and political strategies following military takeovers in those countries. The three states have distanced themselves from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and strengthened alternative alliances.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has continued to support ECOWAS-led approaches to regional security and remains engaged in broader efforts to address insurgency, banditry and other security challenges across West Africa.
Analysts suggest that the disagreement reflects deeper differences in political alignment and security strategy within the region, even as all parties continue to confront a common threat from militant groups.
