Top police officials from Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali gathered in Ouagadougou this week to deepen security collaboration within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The meeting brought together police directors-general and security experts to draft a unified strategy addressing the region’s escalating security challenges.
strengthening regional security through joint police efforts
The three-day conference focused on aligning policing protocols, enhancing information-sharing systems, and boosting operational capabilities. Key priorities included streamlining judicial investigations, improving crowd control measures, and integrating advanced technological tools into security operations. Officials also emphasized the need for coordinated responses to cross-border crimes and emerging threats.
building a shared vision for safer borders
During the opening session, Inspector General Thierry Dofizouho Tuina, head of Burkina Faso’s National Police, stressed that the region’s police forces must act as “dedicated instruments” in shaping the future of the AES. He highlighted that this gathering followed earlier commitments made at the January 2025 police chiefs’ meeting in Bamako and the July security ministers’ summit, reinforcing the alliance’s unified approach.
A major discussion point was the facilitation of movement within the confederal space. Police leaders aim to standardize border controls, enhance intelligence-sharing, and crack down on roadblock extortion and bureaucratic hurdles that hinder trade and travel. These measures seek to foster smoother interactions while maintaining robust security oversight.
united against terrorism and organized crime
Controller General Youssouf Koné, Mali’s Police Director-General, underscored that pooling resources is critical to meeting public safety demands and supporting the AES’s growth. Meanwhile, Commissioner General Assahaba Ebankawal of Niger’s National Police warned that the alliance must prioritize combating rising terrorist attacks, transnational crime, and other pressing security threats plaguing the Sahel.
The summit concluded with a set of actionable recommendations designed to cement police cooperation across the three nations, setting the stage for more coordinated security measures in the region.