Mali, Burkina Faso Boycott West Africa Defense Summit in Abuja

AFRICAN BUSINESS AND ECONOMYAugust 26, 2025 at 2:55 PM UTC

TLDR

Mali and Burkina Faso declined to attend the African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit that opened in Abuja on August 25
The summit, hosted by Nigeria, gathered senior military officers from across the continent to craft “local solutions” to Africa’s security needs
The two countries, with Niger, withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January 2024

Mali and Burkina Faso declined to attend the African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit that opened in Abuja on August 25, underscoring tensions between the Sahel’s military-led governments and their West African neighbors.

The summit, hosted by Nigeria, gathered senior military officers from across the continent to craft “local solutions” to Africa’s security needs. But two key members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — Mali and Burkina Faso — boycotted. Niger, represented by Colonel Soumana Kalkoye, was the only AES state present.

The three countries withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in January 2024, after sanctions and threats of military intervention followed Niger’s 2023 coup. Since then, the juntas have formed their own AES bloc to coordinate on counter-jihadist operations.

Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa called for “a new architecture for security cooperation, led by Africa,” warning that regional threats “know no borders.” The summit runs through August 27.

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Key Takeaways

The Abuja summit illustrates the widening rift between ECOWAS and the Sahel juntas. While Nigeria pushes for continental defense coordination, Mali and Burkina Faso’s absence highlights the AES’s reluctance to engage with neighbors they see as aligned with external pressure. This fragmentation complicates counterterrorism in a region already strained by jihadist groups expanding from the Sahel into coastal states. Niger’s limited participation shows some willingness to cooperate, but the absence of Mali and Burkina Faso — two of the hardest-hit states — undermines prospects for collective action. Unless ECOWAS and AES repair ties, regional security risks becoming increasingly fragmented, with parallel structures competing rather than collaborating. That could weaken efforts to stabilize the Lake Chad Basin and coastal West Africa, raising the likelihood of prolonged insecurity.

Economy

Mali

Burkina Faso

Niger

WAEMU

Ecowas

Abuja

Nigeria