The Confederation of Sahel States (AES) has launched a unified military deployment in the tri-border area of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso as part of its regional defense strategy.
The operation, named Yereko 2, ran from February 24 to March 6, 2025, and marks the implementation of security commitments made by Niger’s Defense Minister, General Salifou Mody, in January.
Coordinated from the PCIAT-EST base in Gao, the offensive targeted strategic locations, including Tessit (Mali), Téra (Niger), and Markoy (Burkina Faso), and their surrounding areas.
“The unified force is now a reality. Beyond political will, our armed forces are on the ground for the second time, conducting joint operations,” said Lieutenant Colonel Hamidou Karimou, commander of Nigerien forces involved in the mission.
According to the Direction de l’Information et des Relations Publiques des Armées (DIRPA), the operation led to the destruction of several terrorist bases in the Gourma region, the arrest of suspects, and the seizure of weapons and logistical equipment.
The mission reached its peak at the “Triple Point,” the exact intersection of the three borders, symbolizing the establishment of a unified defense space. General Mody noted that the AES strategic deployment now spans from Rosso on the Mauritanian border to Libya.
This initiative comes as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, following their withdrawal from the G5 Sahel and ECOWAS, reaffirm their commitment to self-reliance in security matters. The alliance plans to establish a 5,000-strong regional force equipped with air, land, and intelligence capabilities.
Source: WAVN