The junta heads of Burkina Faso and Mali concurred to expand their military cooperation during a meeting in Bamako, according to a statement released by the Burkinabe presidency on Sunday.
Burkina’s Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba paid the Malian capital a “friendly visit” on Saturday. It was his first travel abroad since assuming leadership in January, and he and Colonel Assimi Goita decided to “further analise and develop” their military alliance.
“The two countries intend to pool their efforts in the fight against terrorism”, the statement said.
In a subsequent statement, the Malian presidency confirmed the information. According to government estimates, more than two million people have been displaced across the three nations as a result of a jihadist insurgency that has lasted ten years and started in northern Mali before spreading throughout the country and to Burkina Faso and Niger.
In order to combat the militants, Mali earlier this year withdrew from the regional G5 Sahel military force, which also consisted of Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad.
Burkina Faso and Niger persuaded Mali to change its mind in late August. The lengthy Barkhane expedition in Mali saw the final French troops leave that same month.