The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, has officially announced that their joint military force is now operational. This was confirmed by Burkina Faso's Defense Minister, General Kassoum Coulibaly, during an interview with Russian media outlet Sputnik Afrique.
The joint force, established to combat armed terrorist groups, is ready to intervene across member states without formalities. Troops from one country can operate in another AES member state as needed, facilitated by coordinated communication and liaison officers.
In late July, Burkinabe forces supported Mali in an operation in Tinzaouatène, northern Mali, in response to attacks by the Permanent Strategic Framework for the Defense of the Azawad People (CSP-DPA) and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM).