Nigeria and the Sahel: A Growing Security Divide

The recent diplomatic spat between Nigeria and its Sahelian neighbors – Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger – has exposed a widening divide in regional security efforts. The incident that sparked this latest flare-up was the detention of 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel by Burkina Faso after their plane made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso. While the details of the incident are disputed, one thing is clear: overlapping security threats facing these countries have been exacerbated by a lack of coordination and cooperation.

The Sahel region has long been plagued by extremist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP). However, it’s not just their presence that’s the problem – it’s also the failure of regional leaders to effectively counter them. Niger’s withdrawal from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in March 2023 has created a significant gap in regional counterterrorism cooperation and cross-border coordination.

This lack of coordination is not new, but it’s becoming increasingly perilous. As Abiola Sadiq, a Nigerian resilience adviser, pointed out, Niger’s withdrawal from the MNJTF has allowed ISWAP to exploit border areas and move personnel and resources across poorly coordinated security zones. The consequences are dire: with ISWAP remaining active in southeastern Niger, particularly in the Diffa region, the risk of terrorist attacks spreading across borders is higher than ever.

Regional leaders seem unable to learn from past mistakes. As Bolaji Akinyemi, a professor and former external affairs minister of Nigeria, noted, the influx of bandits from the Sahel into Nigeria has been ongoing since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya in 2011. Despite this clear pattern, regional leaders continue to point fingers and blame each other for security challenges facing their countries.

Finger-pointing is not only unproductive – it’s also damaging to fragile economic ties between these countries. Nigeria is West Africa’s largest economy, and trade with its Sahelian neighbors is a vital component of its growth strategy. The uncertainty surrounding regional trade arrangements has already begun to affect businesses and workers in the region.

The diplomatic dispute may have been sparked by remarks from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu about the security situation in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. However, it’s clear that this is just a symptom of deeper structural problems in regional cooperation. Successive confrontations have hardened positions, making it increasingly difficult for countries to find common ground.

A new approach is needed – one that prioritizes coordination and cooperation over finger-pointing and blame-shifting. This will require regional leaders’ willingness to acknowledge past mistakes and work towards creating more effective counter-terrorism strategies. Greater investment in regional security infrastructure is also necessary. The Sahel region has some of the most porous borders in Africa, but regional leaders have failed to address this issue with any urgency.

ISWAP continues to exploit these weaknesses, and it’s clear that a more robust approach is needed. The cross-border chaos in West Africa is not just a security challenge – it’s also an economic one. The uncertainty surrounding trade and movement has already begun to affect businesses and workers in the region. It’s time for regional leaders to put aside their differences and work towards creating a more secure future for all.

The stakes are high, but the solution is clear: regional leaders must prioritize coordination and cooperation over finger-pointing and blame-shifting. It’s time to stop making excuses and start making progress – before it’s too late.