West Africa’s Junta-Led Nations Announce Deployment Of A Joint Force As Extremist Violence Spikes

The junta-led West African countries of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have created a joint force that will soon be deployed in the restive Sahel region, Niger’s defense minister said Wednesday, to face rising extremist violence.

The force of 5,000 personnel will be posted in the three countries, Salifou Mody said during an interview on state television, adding that some joint operations have already taken place.

Niger, along with its neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, has battled for over a decade an insurgency fought by jihadi groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Following military coups in all three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French forces and turned to Russia’s mercenary units for security assistance.

Mody also said the unified force will have its own personnel, as well as air, land, and intelligence resources, and a coordination system.

Read more: AP