Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have announced plan to create a 5,000-strong unit to fight the jihadist violence that has for years plagued the nations.
Niger’s defence minister who made this known in a statement, said the three countries will create a unified force within weeks.
The three nations are former French colonies where the military deposed civilian administrations in putsches between 2020 and 2023.
Following the coups, the three countries distanced themselves from France and last year forming a confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States.
The three countries already carry out joint anti-jihadist operations, especially in the region within their borders where attacks are frequent.
