Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Sign Charter to Create Defense Alliance

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have signed a charter establishing an alliance of Sahel states to create a collective defense architecture, Mali's interim president for the transitional period, Assimi Goita, said on Saturday.

"I have signed today with the leaders of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptako Gourma Charter, establishing the Alliance of Sahel States to create an architecture of collective defense and mutual assistance for the benefit of our people," Goita said on X.

An attack on the sovereignty or territorial integrity of one or more parties to the charter will be regarded as aggression against the other parties and will require their assistance, including the use of military force, the document read.

J’ai signé ce jour avec les Chefs d’Etat du Burkina Faso et du Niger la Charte du Liptako-Gourma instituant l’Alliance des États du Sahel (AES) ayant pour objectif d’établir une architecture de défense collective et d’assistance mutuelle au bénéfice de nos populations. pic.twitter.com/IjT43NHrKs

— Colonel Assimi GOITA (@GoitaAssimi) September 16, 2023

The parties also commit to fighting terrorism and organized crime on the territory of Sahel states, the charter added.