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Burkinabe President Ibrahim Traore met senior military commanders from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in Ouagadougou as the regional bloc stepped up efforts to establish a unified force to combat armed groups across Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Footage shows Traore greeting senior officers, including Niger's Defence Minister Salifou Mody and Mali's army chief General Oumar Diarra, before holding talks focused on strengthening regional military cooperation.

Speaking after the meeting, Burkinabe Defence Minister General Celestin Simpore said the proposed AES unified force should become the "spearhead" in the fight against terrorism while also countering efforts to destabilise the region. He warned that the security situation could evolve into a prolonged, high-intensity conflict, calling for greater military preparedness and offensive capabilities.

The meeting comes amid continued attacks by armed groups across the Sahel, targeting military positions and strategic infrastructure. Officials said the alliance is working to improve joint operations, intelligence sharing and border security while reducing reliance on external military support.

The Alliance of Sahel States, formed by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, has made security cooperation a central pillar of its regional strategy following the three countries' departure from the ECOWAS bloc.

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