Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to form joint force to fight jihadists - BBC News

Niger's army chief says it will be operational as soon as possible, without giving details of its size.

4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsSahel Islamist insurgencyImage source, EPABy Basillioh RukangaBBC NewsThree West African countries run by military juntas say they will form a joint force to fight jihadist threats.

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso announced the formation of the force following talks in the Nigerien capital Niamey.

Niger's army chief Moussa Salaou Barmou announced it would be operational as soon as possible, without giving details of its size.

Groups linked to both Islamic State and al-Qaeda have killed thousands of people in the region in the past year.

The military regimes in the three countries have become increasingly close allies in recent months.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-68498472

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