BAMAKO, Apr. 16 (AGCNewsNet) – Air force chiefs of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have agreed to develop an integrated air defense system under the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), as regional security tensions escalate and relations with Algeria continue to deteriorate.

The high-level meeting, held from April 13 to 17 in Bamako and chaired by Malian Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Oumar Diarra, marked the first official air force summit between the three Sahelian states.

The talks focused on defining a shared security doctrine centered on air power, under the theme “Air Cooperation within the AES: Towards Integrated Defense and Strengthened Sovereignty.” Key priorities include equipment interoperability, intelligence sharing, joint pilot training, and coordinated cross-border operations.

“Air power is now an essential tool for responding quickly and precisely to asymmetric threats in the tri-border area,” the military officials said, highlighting recent successes in counterterrorism operations through coordinated efforts.

The initiative forms part of a broader effort by the AES to reduce reliance on foreign military assistance and assert greater control over security policy. The new air defense framework is seen as a major step toward a self-sufficient regional security architecture.

The move comes amid heightened tensions with Algeria. On March 31, the Algerian army claimed to have shot down a Malian drone it said violated its airspace. Bamako denied the allegation, insisting the drone was conducting a routine mission within Malian territory.

In the wake of the incident, both countries recalled their ambassadors and closed their airspace. Burkina Faso and Niger have since recalled their envoys in solidarity with Mali, prompting Algeria to pull its ambassadors from both countries and cancel a diplomatic mission to Ouagadougou.

Algiers has voiced concern over Mali’s growing reliance on drones and shifting military alliances, while Mali accuses Algeria of meddling in northern affairs and harboring sympathies for certain armed groups.

In this context, the formalization of AES air cooperation signals a strong political and military statement from the Sahel states, underscoring their commitment to securing their territory without outside intervention.

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