What You Need to Know
The Sahel Alliance summit in Bamako on December 22-23, 2025, seeks to address the growing threat of armed groups in the region. With recent military coups in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, the summit aims to establish a united front against security challenges while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics and limited resources.
Africa. The Sahel Alliance summit in Bamako, taking place on December 22-23, 2025, will not be just a passing meeting; it comes amid a complex regional context characterized by the rising influence of armed groups and the diminishing presence of traditional international powers.
Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, all of which have experienced military coups in recent years, are attempting through this alliance to present themselves as a regional force capable of addressing security challenges without external oversight.
Preparations began in late November with ministerial meetings, culminating in the official summit in the last week of December.
This timing is crucial, as it follows a series of attacks by armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda, making the summit an urgent attempt to devise a joint plan to confront threats that are now encroaching on the capitals themselves.
Since the withdrawal of French forces from Mali in 2022 and the reduction of U.S. presence in the region, these countries have found themselves in direct confrontation with groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
This summit represents the second session of the “College of Heads of State of the Sahel Alliance,” where leaders from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso meet to discuss the escalating security challenges in the region.
These groups have exploited the security vacuum to expand their operations, controlling vast rural areas and imposing blockades on certain cities, leading to economic paralysis and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The summit in Bamako will focus on enhancing military coordination among the three countries, but the greatest challenge lies in the lack of financial and military resources.
National armies are suffering from a shortage of modern equipment, while the alliance relies on limited support from new partners like Russia, which has begun providing security assistance through private military companies.
This shift reflects the military regimes’ desire to diversify sources of support, but it also raises concerns about complicating the geopolitical landscape in the region.
Politically, military leaders are facing increasing internal pressures. Local communities suffering from attacks and displacement are demanding urgent solutions, while civil opposition argues that the continuation of military rule exacerbates the crisis and fails to provide sustainable solutions.
Conversely, the regimes believe that their success in repelling armed groups will grant them greater legitimacy and strengthen their position in the international community.
The dangers facing the alliance are not limited to security alone; they also encompass economic and social challenges. Armed groups exploit poverty and unemployment to recruit youth and impose alternative governance in the areas they control, undermining state authority and creating a dangerous political vacuum.
In conclusion, the Bamako summit represents an attempt to redraw the balance of power in the Sahel, but it also reveals the extent of the predicament facing the region. With limited resources, declining international support, and the rising influence of armed groups, the Sahel Alliance stands before an existential test: either succeed in building a united front capable of protecting its territories or face the risk of collapse against an increasingly organized and powerful adversary.
The Sahel region has faced increasing instability due to the rise of armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS, particularly following the withdrawal of French forces in 2022. Countries like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which have experienced military coups, are now striving to assert themselves as regional powers capable of addressing security threats independently. This summit represents a critical moment for these nations to collaborate on security strategies and enhance military coordination.
