Sahel Police Force Accelerates Joint Security Integration in Burkina Faso

Police chiefs from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger met in Ouagadougou to advance the operational cooperation of the Sahel Confederation of States (AES). The meeting, held on 1 July, focuses on turning earlier ministerial decisions into concrete actions before 17 July. Priorities include real‑time intelligence sharing, harmonising border‑check procedures on main road corridors, and interconnecting police databases so that information on wanted persons and stolen vehicles can be accessed instantly.

The chiefs also discussed extending collaboration to forensic police, joint training, judicial investigations and the sharing of specialised equipment. This session follows the first AES police chiefs' gathering in Bamako (30‑31 January 2025) and aims to demonstrate the new security bloc’s credibility after its split from ECOWAS. Officials noted technical challenges such as outdated IT systems and the need for common procedural rules, but stressed that pooled resources are essential to counter trans‑border threats.

The initiative seeks to balance tighter security with the free movement of people and goods while curbing illegal rackets that affect transporters and travelers across the three Sahel states.