The Alliance of Sahel States, AES, comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, has fired back at President Bola Tinubu over his claim that instability in the Sahel was worsening Nigeria’s security crisis.

It also summoned Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires in a fresh diplomatic row that has exposed deep cracks between Abuja and the breakaway Alliance of Sahel States, AES.

Consequently, the Alliance summoned Nigeria’s envoy in Ouagadougou on Thursday, August 6, to protest remarks made by Tinubu on July 30 while addressing traditional rulers in the country.

“Some of them (the terrorists) are not Nigerians. You see, the problem of insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger is worsening our difficulties,” Tinubu had told the traditional rulers.

The comment amid Nigeria’s battle with jihadist groups, bandits and kidnappers across several states, with militant activities increasingly spilling across borders in the Sahel and Lake Chad region.

But the AES authorities rejected Tinubu’s assessment outright, calling it inaccurate and dismissive of the sacrifices of Sahelian armies and civilians.

Speaking on behalf of the bloc, Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, said the four countries were victims of the same scourge.

He said: “Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria face the same enemy. We would have preferred a more accurate presentation of the security situation, rather than placing the blame for a complex situation on neighbouring countries, at the risk of fuelling misunderstandings and frustrations between peoples bound by history, geography, and fraternity.”

Traoré argued that Tinubu’s remarks overlooked history, noting that Niger had confronted Boko Haram long before violence spread to Mali and Burkina Faso.

“We are not responsible for what is happening to us. The real enemies are elsewhere,” he added.

Despite the public rebuke, Traoré said the AES was still open to working with Nigeria, saying “we favour continued engagement with Nigeria in a ‘joint and shared fight’ against insecurity.’’

The latest spat adds to years of strained relations since Tinubu assumed ECOWAS chairmanship in 2023.

The bloc had imposed sanctions on Niger after the coup and threatened military intervention, measures that failed to restore civilian rule and were later lifted.

Relations deteriorated further when Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger quit ECOWAS and formed the AES as a separate political and security bloc.

The three countries have since pivoted toward Russia for security cooperation, while Nigeria remains ECOWAS’ leading power and continues to push for regional counter-terrorism collaboration.

Tensions also flared in December 2025 after Burkina Faso detained 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel whose C-130 aircraft made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso en route Portugal for maintenance.

The AES initially called it an unfriendly act for entering its airspace without authorisation but the crew and passengers were later released after diplomatic talks. (Vanguard)

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