Senegal and Mali step up their military cooperation efforts...

In response to the persistent threat posed by armed groups in the subregion, Senegal and Mali have decided to combine their efforts to better secure their shared border. In this context, the two nations officially launched joint patrols on February 20, 2025, in Diboli, aimed at strengthening surveillance of strategic routes and ensuring the safety of local populations.

Senegal has deployed units from Military Zone No. 4, as well as the Rapid Action Group for Surveillance and Intervention. Meanwhile, Mali has engaged its Malian Armed Forces and internal security services to ensure the effectiveness of this operation.

These joint patrols focus on several key objectives: neutralizing terrorist threats, combating organized crime, dismantling criminal networks operating in the region, and strengthening the trust of local populations in their defense and security forces.

In addition to the security aspect, this initiative is part of a broader logic of enhanced cooperation between the two brother countries, which share historical, cultural, and economic ties.

The authorities of both states emphasize the importance of this joint action, which consolidates the efforts already made within regional bodies, particularly within the framework of the Sahel States Alliance. This military partnership illustrates Senegal and Mali’s commitment to taking charge of their own security by implementing strategies tailored to the realities on the ground.

It also marks a new step in the fight against terrorism and cross-border crime, while laying the foundations for sustained collaboration for peace and stability in the Sahel region.