Senior police leaders from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger convened in Ouagadougou on Thursday for a pivotal security coordination meeting under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) framework. The gathering brought together top police officials and technical experts to forge a unified response to escalating regional security threats.
The three-day session focused on aligning policing strategies, enhancing cross-border information systems, and boosting operational readiness. Discussions centered on streamlining investigative procedures, improving joint patrols, and leveraging advanced forensic and digital tools to combat evolving criminal networks.
At the opening ceremony, Inspector General Thierry Dofizouho Tuina, head of Burkina Faso’s national police, emphasized the role of security forces as ‘engines of resilience’ in strengthening the AES alliance. He highlighted that this gathering followed up on commitments made during the January 2025 Bamako police chiefs’ summit and the July ministerial security meeting.
Border management emerged as a key priority, with delegates agreeing to standardize crossing protocols, share real-time intelligence, and crack down on illegal roadblock extortion that undermines regional trade. Controller General Youssouf Koné from Mali stressed that pooling resources was critical to meeting public safety demands and accelerating AES development.
Commissioner General Assahaba Ebankawal of Niger warned that heightened terrorist attacks, transnational crime, and other destabilizing forces required deeper operational collaboration. The session concluded with draft recommendations aimed at cementing a robust, synchronized policing architecture across the three nations.
