Tensions have resurfaced between the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and Nigeria, sparked by remarks from the Nigerian president that did not sit well in Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou.

During a meeting with Nigerian traditional leaders on July 30, Bola Ahmed Tinubu suggested that some of the insecurity and kidnappings in northern Nigeria could be attributed to terrorist elements from neighboring countries. This statement prompted Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, to issue a strongly worded response on August 7, emphasizing that terrorism is a shared threat. The communiqué stated that “Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria all face the same enemy.”

“The real enemies lie elsewhere”

On the same day, representatives of the three AES countries convened in Ouagadougou to summon the Nigerian chargé d’affaires. They firmly rejected Tinubu’s statements, calling them “inaccurate.” The Burkinabe foreign minister argued that the Nigerian president’s remarks downplayed the significant efforts made by AES member states in combating terrorism. He added, “We are not responsible for our challenges. The real enemies are elsewhere.”

Over recent years, security has deteriorated sharply in Nigeria’s northwest, particularly along its border with Niger. Relations between Abuja and its neighbors had already strained in 2023 following the coup in Niamey.