Sahel states have intensified their campaign against the French presence across the region, extending beyond military, diplomatic, and economic ties to target French media outlets as well.

The joint initiative was announced during a high-level meeting hosted by the Nigerien capital, Niamey, on November 7, which brought together the defense ministers of the Sahel Alliance countries.

On September 22, 2025, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, calling the institution a tool of colonial oppression in the hands of imperial powers.

The Sahel states and Russia are deepening their strategic partnership, with a particular focus on military cooperation, built on shared interests to confront mounting security challenges and to shape an alliance independent of former colonial powers.

In a move that underscores the fragility of regional blocs in Africa, Rwanda has announced its withdrawal from ECCAS following the bloc’s 26th summit held in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea.