West African Juntas Form Confederation in Break With Regional Bloc
- Divides region into alliances of democracies, military rulers
- Juntas have reinforced cooperation with Russia, Iran, Turkey
Niger's General Abdourahamane Tiani, cneter left, revues a guard of honor next to his Burkinabe counterpart Captain Ibrahim Traore, right, in Niamey on July 5.
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Military leaders from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso inched further away from their West African neighbors, forming a confederation aimed at reinforcing political and economic integration.
The move — effectively dividing West Africa into opposing alliances of democracies and of military rulers — comes after the juntas independently cut military ties with France and the US. They have also reinforced cooperation with Russia, Iran and Turkey following military takeovers in recent years.