United States seeks new Sahel security ties to counter Russia and jihadists

The United States is pursuing a strategic shift to re-establish security cooperation with Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to counter expanding jihadist threats from Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates. This initiative follows a period of volatility in the Sahel, where military coups led to the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and a pivot toward Russian security assistance via the Africa Corps, formerly the Wagner Group.

In the U.S. Congress, Representatives Jimmy Panetta and Joe Wilson have introduced legislation aimed at strengthening security partnerships with Bamako. The proposed law would require the State Department to develop a diplomatic strategy to combat terrorism in Mali and evaluate the capabilities and connections of groups like JNIM. The legislation also emphasizes studying the financial resources of jihadist organizations, including revenue from gold mining, smuggling, and extortion.

Washington seeks to provide tailored security assistance and intelligence sharing without replicating the heavy military footprint previously used by France. The instability in the region has also caused significant economic disruption, affecting critical mining operations in gold and uranium, and hindering regional trade and infrastructure investment.