 The military junters of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are totally changing the game of governance in Africa. Think about it, since they came on the scene, they have done things differently. From kicking France out, defying sanctions, and standing against neocolonialism, these guys have been shaking things up. But what's got everyone talking is the historic moment they made on September 16, 2023, by forming the first ever NATO-style alliance in Africa. The news was announced by Esmi Goethe, the military junta of Mali, on Twitter, currently called X. I have today signed with the heads of state of Burkina Faso and Niger, the Leptakoguma Charter, establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, to establish a collective defense and mutual assistance framework for the benefit of our populations, he wrote. This sensational news comes after the military junters of Mali and Burkina Faso threatened war against any military intervention in Niger by Echoes. Now, this alliance is not a regional bloc like Echoes or a grouping like the African Union. It is completely different. As we said, NATO-style. So, how is it a NATO-style alliance? If you check Article 6 of the Alliance document, you will discover that it is much like Article 5 of the NATO Alliance document, and it says that any attack on one or more signatory states will be considered an attack on all signatories. In its own words, the four-page Alliance document states that the basis of the alliance is that the need to continue the heroic struggles waged by the African people and countries for political independence, human dignity, and economic emancipation, and so, any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracted parties will be considered an aggression against the other parties. Just look at those words, isn't it magnificent? So, this means that, in the same way that NATO is fighting on behalf of Ukraine against Russia, the Alliance of Sahel States, ASS, will also fight against anyone who is a threat to their member countries. But that's not all the Alliance is about. Aside from fighting external threats, the Alliance was also formed to combine the resources of these countries to fight against terrorism, which has plagued the Sahel region for years. You will find this under Article 4 of the Alliance document. Now, talking about an Alliance to Fight Against Terrorism, Moli, Burkina Faso, and Niger have formally been members of the France-supported G5 Sahel Alliance Joint Force with Chad and Mauritania, launched in 2017 to tackle extremists in the region. The insurgency crisis erupted in northern Moli in 2012 and spread to Niger and Burkina Faso in 2015. But, as you know, Moli had a coup in 2020, and guess what happened next? Moli left the organization, and since Moli left, the organization has been dormant. So, what does this Alliance mean for France, Moli, Burkina Faso, and Niger? Well, for France, if you have been following the news, you would know that the relationship between France and these three countries has deteriorated. Following the coup in Moli and Burkina Faso, the French forces were kicked out, and the ambassador was told to leave. Moli even went further by removing French as the official language of the country. Niger is also not left out immediately after the coup, the defence packed with France was ended, and the military junta, together with the people of Niger, are demanding the withdrawal of France from the country. So, this Alliance even gives more power to the three countries, and the only way they would want to ally with France would be based on an equal partnership. While the Alliance protects Niger from Echoes' military threats as well as helping combat the insurgency crisis in the country, Moli stands to benefit the most from the Alliance in the immediate future. In addition to fighting terrorists linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, Moli has seen a renewal of hostilities by mostly Tuareg armed groups in recent weeks. The rise of violent hostilities risks stretching Moli's army to its breaking point. So, this Alliance will provide the needed resources to combat the crisis situation. Burkina Faso, on the other hand, is expected to lead the Alliance under the capable hands of Ibrahim Traore, the youngest president in the world. While the ISS cannot be compared to NATO with all its resources, it is a welcome development in Africa and could serve as a starting point for the actualisation of a united Africa. And if you look at the Charter Agreement, no clause blocks another country from becoming a member, so it's possible that other members of the Dormant G5 Sahel, like Chad and Mauritania, could join, which would mean more resources could be combined both militarily and economically. What are your thoughts on the ISS? Is this a game changer or just another political manoeuvre? Let us know in the comments below and don't forget to hit that subscribe button, like this video and share this video.