BBN - FIGHTING TERRORISM: Two-Speed Regional Cooperation in the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea

Faced with the expanding terrorist threat, the sub-region presents a contrasting diplomatic landscape. While Burkina Faso and Benin are presenting a united front, Niger is maintaining its distance from Cotonou, illustrating a two-speed strategy within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

On the ground, operational synergy is accelerating. The Burkinabe and Beninese Armed Forces have intensified their joint patrols along their shared border to counter armed incursions in northern Benin.

This strengthened cooperation rests on three strategic pillars:

Increased surveillance of vulnerable areas.

Dynamic intelligence sharing.

Tactical coordination of targeted operations.

For Ouagadougou, the objective is to push armed groups back beyond its borders. For Cotonou, the priority is to secure the north and stop any further spread of terrorism. This pragmatic rapprochement demonstrates that, despite the political context, security takes precedence.

Conversely, the Niamey-Cotonou axis remains at a standstill. General Abdourahamane Tiani recently referred to persistent « strains » in bilateral relations. As a result, no joint operations or joint patrols are currently planned between Niger and Benin.

By operating with varying levels of cooperation, states risk creating gray areas, security gaps that mobile terrorist groups are quick to exploit. While the Burkina Faso-Benin partnership sets an example of a unified response, Niger’s distrust serves as a reminder that diplomacy remains a crucial obstacle. Will the Special Economic and Monetary Authority (SMA) manage to harmonize its strategy before insecurity definitively takes hold?