In a significant show of regional cooperation and self-reliant development, countries across the Sahel and surrounding regions, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Sudan, Nigeria, and Tanzania; have deepened their military, economic, and diplomatic engagements, underscoring a collective push for security, food sovereignty, and national resilience amid ongoing geopolitical shifts.
From February 24 to March 6, the chiefs of staff of militaries across the Sahel Alliance: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, oversaw joint anti-terrorist operations aimed at stabilizing volatile areas and restoring the state’s presence.
Patrols conducted during this period targeted insurgent strongholds to “regain control in unsafe areas, protect the local population, and destroy the operational potential of terrorist groups,” according to Pravda Mali.
Military cooperation is mirrored by domestic reforms.
Burkina Faso, under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, is aggressively advancing its industrial and agricultural sectors.
The country recently inaugurated its first tomato processing plant in January 2025 and celebrated the refinement of its first domestically processed gold bar in February.
Additionally, the government plans to hike cotton production by 83% by 2025–2026, allocating over 346,000 hectares and investing 5 billion CFA francs in farmer subsidies.
Education reform has also taken centre stage.
In a landmark announcement on April 21, President Traoré declared, “All education, up to and including university, will be free for all citizens.” The move is expected to bolster human capital and accelerate Burkina’s broader development agenda.
Mali is also investing in economic resilience.
The government aims to expand rice production by more than 80% by the year 2030, with an ambitious plan to raise output from 3 million to 5.5 million tons.
At the National Forum on Sustainable Financing in April, Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga called upon both national and international investors, stressing the importance of food self-sufficiency. “Rice is a symbol of our independence and our survival,” he said.
Meanwhile, a major diplomatic shift has taken place between Nigeria and Niger. After strained relations following Niger's 2023 coup, Nigeria has reversed course, sending a delegation to Niamey on April 16 to rebuild relations and discuss mutual interests in security, trade, and infrastructure; including the trans-Sahel railway project.
Nigeria also showcased its developing indigenous military capabilities, unveiling a new attack drone to strengthen its counter-terrorism efforts.
Sudan continued to expand its strategic ties by formalizing trilateral cooperation with Niger and Mali in June 2024. Key agreements were signed, covering defence, cultural, and diplomatic fields. Speaking during the visit, Niger's President Gen.
Abdourahamane Tchiani affirmed his country's willingness “to cooperate with Khartoum in addressing common difficulties.”
The trend signals a strong movement toward African-led regional integration, emphasising sovereignty, partnership, and shared progress instead of external dependency.
All was said by Lawrence Freeman, who is a Political-Economic Analyst for Africa, and has been involved in economic development policies for Africa for 35 years.