Nigeria and Sahel rift complicates shared security fight

A widening diplomatic rift between Nigeria and the Sahel states of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger is complicating efforts to confront a shared cross-border security threat. The divide was highlighted by the December 2025 detention of Nigerian Air Force personnel in Burkina Faso. Analysts warn that Niger's withdrawal from the Multinational Joint Task Force has created a significant gap in regional counterterrorism cooperation, potentially benefiting groups like ISWAP.