Fresh diplomatic friction has emerged between Nigeria and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) following recent remarks by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The comments, made during a July 30 meeting with Nigerian traditional leaders, linked cross-border terrorism to neighboring Sahel nations, prompting swift reactions from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

The Nigerien Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on August 7, emphasizing that terrorism remains a shared threat. “The nations of the Sahel and Nigeria confront the same adversary,” the communiqué stated, while expressing disappointment over Tinubu’s allegations. The statement underscored that regional cooperation is crucial in countering extremism.

“The real enemies lie elsewhere”

In response, the AES countries summoned Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires in Ouagadougou on August 7, formally protesting Tinubu’s remarks as “inaccurate and damaging.” Burkinabè Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré stressed that the comments disregarded the significant sacrifices made by Sahelian forces in combating terrorism. “We are not responsible for our own suffering. The true enemies are elsewhere,” he declared, rejecting any implication that regional instability stems from Sahel nations.

Relations between Abuja and the AES bloc have been strained since 2023, particularly after Niger’s coup. The latest dispute centers on Nigeria’s northwest, where escalating violence has intensified cross-border tensions.