Analysis & Reports
AI-assisted analysis of military-related information from public sources
Sahel: The rivalry between the Sahel States Alliance and ECOWAS in the face of jihadist escalation
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) deployed a unified force of 5,000 to 6,000 fighters in December 2025 to combat jihadist insurgency in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Meanwhile, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced plans for a larger regional anti-terrorist force comprising 260,000 soldiers, supported by a $2.5 billion annual budget. This situation highlights the political divide between the military juntas in the Sahel and the broader ECOWAS community.
Marie DuboisThu Mar 12 2026Loading...The American Return to the Sahel: Between Strategic Pragmatism and Redefinition of Alliances
The U.S. is negotiating security cooperation agreements with military juntas in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso as of March 2026. This includes the potential resumption of drone surveillance over Mali to monitor jihadist groups. Concurrently, jihadist activities have escalated in Nigeria, leading to military casualties. Sahelian forces have also reported tactical successes against militants, indicating a complex security landscape in the region.
Marie DuboisThu Mar 12 2026Loading...The Sahel at a Crossroads: Washington Reconnects with Military Juntas in the Face of Jihadist Rise
The U.S. is negotiating a return to military operations in the Sahel, including drone surveillance over Mali, while Nigerien forces successfully conducted operations against jihadists. Russian forces are providing military support to Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, amid increasing jihadist violence in Nigeria. This situation reflects a complex geopolitical landscape with implications for U.S. interests in the region.
Marie DuboisThu Mar 12 2026Loading...The Sahel Facing Strategic Fragmentation: Rivalry between ECOWAS and the Sahel States Alliance in the Counter-Terrorism Fight
ECOWAS is set to deploy 2000 soldiers by the end of 2026 to combat terrorism in the Sahel, while the Sahel States Alliance, comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, aims to establish a joint force of 5000-6000 fighters. This dual military architecture arises amid rising terrorist threats and significant humanitarian crises, with Nigeria's economic challenges limiting its support for ECOWAS operations.
Marie DuboisWed Mar 11 2026Loading...Sahel: Between Territorial Reconquests and Strategic Reconfiguration, the Anti-Jihadist Offensive Marks a Turning Point in March 2026
Burkinabè Armed Forces regained control of several strategic towns in Burkina Faso from jihadist groups in February 2026. Coordinated operations with Malian forces resulted in the elimination of over 100 militants. The U.S. lifted sanctions on Malian officials to facilitate ISR operations, while ECOWAS deployed a new military force to address the growing jihadist threat in West Africa. Ongoing attacks by the Islamic State in Niger underscore the persistent security challenges in the region.
Marie DuboisWed Mar 11 2026Loading...Sahel: The ECOWAS-AES Rivalry Redefines the Regional Security Architecture
ECOWAS announced the deployment of 2000 soldiers by 2026, while the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) launched a unified force of 5000 soldiers in December 2025. On March 10, 2026, ISIS-Sahel attacked the Tahoua airport in Niger, targeting military drones. The security situation in the Sahel remains dire, with over 2.6 million displaced and terrorism-related deaths surpassing 10,000 in 2025.
Marie DuboisTue Mar 10 2026Loading...The Sahel States Alliance Strengthens Its Unified Force: Analysis of a New Regional Security Architecture
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) expanded its Unified Force to 6,000 soldiers by early 2026, intensifying military operations against jihadist threats. In March 2026, Malian and Burkinabè forces conducted airstrikes that neutralized over 100 militants in Sikasso and Djibo. The presence of approximately 1,000 Russian contractors in Mali supports AES operations, while ECOWAS plans to deploy a rapid response force of 1,650 soldiers in 2026. The situation reflects a complex security dynamic in the Sahel region.
Marie DuboisTue Mar 10 2026Loading...Sahel: The rivalry between the AES and ECOWAS reshapes West African security geopolitics
The Unified Force of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) was officially launched in December 2025, comprising 6,000 soldiers from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with its headquarters in Niamey. This force aims to counter the growing terrorist threat independently, while the Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO) plans to establish a standby force of 260,000 soldiers by 2026. Recent terrorist attacks have intensified, highlighting the urgent need for effective regional cooperation amidst political fractures.
Marie DuboisMon Mar 09 2026Loading...Sahel: Institutional Fragmentation in the Face of Terrorist Escalation
ECOWAS activated a regional force of 2,000 soldiers in March 2026 to address escalating terrorist threats in the Sahel. The main terrorist groups, JNIM and ISSP, continue to conduct sophisticated attacks, including a drone assault on Niamey's airport. JNIM has imposed a blockade on fuel convoys in Mali, while the AES has launched a unified force of 6,000 men to combat the crisis. The situation remains critical as these groups threaten regional stability.
Marie DuboisMon Mar 09 2026Loading...The Sahel between Militarization and Fragmentation: The Escalation of Regional Rivalries Redefines the West African Security Architecture
On January 29, 2026, 30 ISIS fighters attacked the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, highlighting the ineffectiveness of current military strategies. In response to escalating violence, ECOWAS announced a plan for a 260,000-soldier anti-terror force, while the U.S. deployed 100 military personnel to Nigeria to bolster local efforts against terrorism. The Sahel region faces increasing fragmentation and competition among security architectures.
Marie DuboisSun Mar 08 2026Loading...Sahel: Accelerated Militarization in Response to Terrorist Escalation and Geopolitical Tensions
IS-Sahel attacked Niamey International Airport on January 29, 2026, using armed drones and mortars, marking a significant escalation in regional terrorism. JNIM has conducted over 500 attacks in Burkina Faso, controlling 60% of the territory. The CEDEAO activated a standby force of 2,000 soldiers in March 2026, while Russian fighters have been deployed in the AES countries. The situation reflects a deteriorating security environment in the Sahel.
Marie DuboisSun Mar 08 2026Loading...The Sahel Facing the Terrorist Offensive: Between Escalation of Violence and Fragmented Military Response
On January 29, 2026, the Islamic State's Sahel Province launched a coordinated assault on Dori Hamani International Airport and Air Base 101 in Niamey, utilizing 30 fighters equipped with armed drones and mortars. The attack, which lasted two hours, was ultimately repelled, but it highlights the growing operational capabilities of jihadist groups in the region. In a separate incident in mid-February, 80 soldiers and militia members were killed in an attack in Titao.
Marie DuboisWed Mar 04 2026Loading...
The Sahel Facing an Unprecedented Terrorist Escalation: The Alliance of Sahel States Confronted with Its Strategic Limits
On January 29, 2026, thirty fighters from the Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP) launched a two-hour coordinated assault on Niamey International Airport in Niger, demonstrating the group's capability to strike at the heart of Sahelian capitals. The attack, which resulted in the neutralization of all assailants, highlights the escalating terrorist threat in the region, particularly as JNIM has conducted over 500 attacks in Burkina Faso, controlling significant territory.
Marie DuboisWed Mar 04 2026Loading...ECOWAS Activates Its Standby Force: 2,000 Soldiers Facing the Sahelian Terrorist Threat
ECOWAS activated its Standby Force, deploying 2,000 soldiers to combat armed groups in West Africa by the end of 2026. This decision was made during a meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in response to a significant rise in terrorism-related deaths in the region. The activation represents a shift in military focus from political rebels to ideological groups, highlighting the urgent security crisis in West Africa.
Marie DuboisTue Mar 03 2026Loading...ECOWAS Activates Its Standby Force: 2,000 Soldiers Facing the Sahelian Terrorist Threat
ECOWAS has activated its standby force of 2,000 soldiers to address the ongoing terrorist threat in the Sahel region. This deployment aims to enhance security and stability in the area, reflecting the organization's commitment to combat terrorism.
Marie DuboisTue Mar 03 2026Loading...ECOWAS mobilizes 2000 soldiers against jihadist expansion: a delayed and fragmented response in the Sahel
ECOWAS announced the deployment of 2000 soldiers by the end of 2026 to combat jihadist expansion in the Sahel. This decision follows a significant increase in violence from groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS, which has resulted in thousands of deaths. The ECOWAS Standby Force will face challenges due to a fractured relationship with the Alliance of Sahel States, which has formed its own defense coalition. The situation remains complex, with ongoing security threats and operational difficulties.
Marie DuboisTue Mar 03 2026Loading...ECOWAS activates its regional force in response to jihadist escalation: a fragmented response in the Sahel
ECOWAS activated a regional defense force to address escalating jihadist violence in West Africa, planning to deploy 2000 soldiers by the end of 2026. The region has experienced significant conflict-related deaths, with jihadist groups increasingly attacking urban areas. Political fragmentation within ECOWAS poses challenges to effective military coordination and response.
Marie DuboisMon Mar 02 2026Loading...
The Sahel Facing a Security Escalation: The Rivalry Between ECOWAS and the Sahel States Alliance Redefines the Regional Counterterrorism Landscape
In 2026, ECOWAS announced plans to deploy 2,000 soldiers to combat terrorism in West Africa, while the Sahel States Alliance operates a joint military force of 5,000. The region faces unprecedented terrorist threats, with over half of global terrorism-related deaths occurring in West Africa. Tensions between ECOWAS and the Sahel States Alliance are rising, complicating regional security efforts.
Marie DuboisMon Mar 02 2026Loading...
The Sahelian Fracture: ECOWAS and AES Facing the Rise of Terrorism in West Africa
ECOWAS announced plans to deploy 2000 soldiers by the end of 2026 to combat jihadist threats in West Africa, particularly from Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM). Concurrently, the Sahel Alliance, comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has a joint force of 6000 soldiers. Recent attacks, including the use of kamikaze drones by JNIM in Togo, highlight the escalating threat. The situation is further complicated by the involvement of Russian and American military forces in the region.
Marie DuboisSun Mar 01 2026Loading...The Sahel States Alliance reaches a strategic milestone with a unified force of 6,000 men
The Sahel States Alliance (AES) became fully operational with 6,000 troops on February 27, 2026, following a strategic meeting in Ouagadougou. This force aims to counter intensified jihadist operations by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in the region. Concurrently, the Mali army conducted successful airstrikes against JNIM fighters, demonstrating increased military capabilities. The CEDEAO is also planning to deploy a smaller force to address regional security threats.
Marie DuboisSat Feb 28 2026Loading...
