Burkina Faso, Niger withdraw from all G5 Sahel association bodies

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Dec 2023 22:07

Following in Mali's footsteps, Burkina Faso and Niger release a joint statement announcing their departure from the French-backed G5 Sahel association.

Nigerien soldiers stand guard as supporters of Niger's National Council of Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) protest outside the French airbase to demand the departure of the French troops from Niger, in Niamey on September 16, 2023. (AFP)

Burkina Faso and Niger will withdraw from all bodies of the G5 Sahel regional association, including the joint military force, the two nations announced in a joint statement on Saturday.

The Sahel states saw recent military coups, which ousted Western-backed Presidents, in favor of military juntas that hold national projects. The G5 Sahel included Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania, and Chad and aimed to fight terrorism in the region. However, the organization has failed to achieve its objectives, as pointed out by the released joint statement.

"The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and the Republic of Niger, after an in-depth examination of the G5 Sahel and the functioning of the organization, have sovereignly decided to withdraw Burkina Faso and Niger from all forums and bodies of the G5 Sahel, including the joint force, effective November 29, 2023," the joint statement read.

After nine years of its establishment, the G5 Sahel, which was meant to make the Sahel "a space for security and development," is "struggling to achieve its objectives," according to the statement.

Previously, Mali withdrew from the French-backed G5 "anti-terrorism force" in 2022 and forced out the UN MINUSMA force in 2023. On the other hand, in mid-September, it signed along with Burkina Faso and Niger a charter establishing an Alliance of Sahel States (AES) - the Liptako-Gourma Charter - to build a collective defense architecture and mutual collaboration aimed at benefiting the nations' peoples.

The three countries have been fighting the remnants of colonialism stemming from French colonialism and successive leaderships that have failed to secure their national interests.

The charter signed on September 16 binds the signatories to assist one another -- including militarily -- in case of an attack on any of its members. Interestingly, the ousting of former Nigerien President, Mohammed Bazoum, triggered a Western outroar, especially in France, which saw its empire in West Africa collapse.

Although the French and its African allies had vowed to take military action against Niger, no such development has occurred since initial threats were made in late July 2023.

Instead, the country's military junta, under the leadership of General Abdourahmane Tchiani, has strengthened relations with like-minded countries such as Burkina Faso and Mali, while opposing French and American presence in the region.