Mali, Niger, Burkina sign mutual defence pact

Source: The post is based on the article “Mali, Niger, Burkina sign mutual defence pact”  published in The Hindu on 24th September 2023

What is the News?

Military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have signed a mutual defense pact called Liptako-Gourma Charter.

What is Liptako-Gourma Charter?

Liptako-Gourma Charter was signed between military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The charter establishes the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).The charter aims to establish an architecture of collective defence and mutual assistance for the benefit of the population.

This alliance will be a combination of military and economic efforts between the three countries.

Under this alliance, any attack on one or more signatory states will be considered an attack on all signatories.

Note: Liptako-Gourma region is where the Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger borders meet.The region has been ravaged by armed rebellion in recent years.

Why has this Liptako-Gourma Charter been signed?

The Sahel region has been the site of an ongoing jihadist insurgency since 2011, which has led to many conflicts in the region, such as the Mali War and the Boko Haram insurgency.All three countries states have also experienced military coups in recent years.