Military chiefs of staff from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) are meeting in Ouagadougou on April 16–17, 2026, to adopt strategic guidelines aimed at strengthening the Confederation’s Unified Force.
The session follows a technical experts’ meeting held from April 7 to 15 and focuses on validating recommendations to enhance the operational capacity of the 15,000-strong joint force.
Senior military officials from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are expected to take key decisions to improve coordination and effectiveness in combating terrorism across the Sahel.
Burkina Faso’s Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Moussa Diallo, stated that the outcomes will directly influence field operations and strengthen the command structure of the force.
He also reaffirmed the readiness of the Unified Force to respond decisively to any threats against the AES region.
The conclusions of the meeting will be submitted to the heads of state of the three member countries for final approval.
