Fresh diplomatic friction has emerged between Nigeria and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) over counter-terrorism strategies. The latest spark: remarks made by Nigeria’s president that have drawn sharp reactions in Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou.

During a July 30 meeting with Nigerian traditional leaders, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suggested that instability and kidnappings in northern Nigeria were partly fueled by terrorist elements from neighboring countries. This assertion prompted Burkina Faso’s foreign minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, to issue a formal statement on August 7, stressing that terrorism is a shared threat. The declaration emphasized that Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria confront the same enemy, while expressing disappointment over the Nigerian president’s comments.

“The real enemies lie elsewhere”

On the same day, representatives of the three AES member states convened in Ouagadougou to summon Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires. They formally protested Tinubu’s remarks, calling them inaccurate. The Burkinabè diplomat argued that the president’s statements undermined the collaborative efforts of AES armies in combating terrorism. In response, Traoré declared, “We are not responsible for our challenges. The real enemies lie elsewhere.”

Security conditions have deteriorated significantly in Nigeria’s northwest, particularly along the border with Niger. Tensions between Abuja and its Sahel neighbors flared in 2023 following the coup in Niamey.