The leadership of the Sahel Alliance – made up of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso – has announced the postponement of its second summit, initially scheduled for July, to next September in the Malian capital, Bamako.
While no official reason was given for the delay, the announcement comes amid a surge in armed attacks in the region. The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) recently carried out coordinated assaults on military and security sites near the border areas of the three member states.
The region is also experiencing mounting political and security tensions, especially following a recent diplomatic incident between Mali and Algeria. A Malian drone reportedly breached Algerian airspace and was shot down, prompting both countries to recall their ambassadors.
These countries also face growing regional and international pressure, particularly after their withdrawal from ECOWAS and their pivot toward new allies such as Russia.
The postponed summit in September is expected to focus on strengthening military and security cooperation among member states, as well as addressing the region’s overlapping political and economic crises.
