West Africa’s geopolitical landscape is undergoing significant realignment, with Morocco emerging as a key military partner for Burkina Faso amid escalating tensions between Algeria and members of the Sahel States Alliance, including Mali.
The recent destruction of a Malian drone near the Algerian border has further strained diplomatic relations, leaving a gap in regional cooperation that Rabat appears poised to fill.
In a strategic move, Morocco has stepped up its military cooperation with Burkina Faso, signalling a recalibration of regional alliances. A Moroccan C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft has been stationed in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second-largest city, since June 18.
The aircraft has supported ongoing parachute training exercises, bolstering the Burkinabè army’s airborne readiness at a time when the region faces mounting security threats from insurgent groups.
Military exchanges between the two nations have also intensified. I
n May, a delegation of Burkinabè officers travelled to Morocco for advanced training sessions conducted by military historians and experts from the Moroccan general staff.
These programs, focusing on strategic doctrine and operational tactics, reflect a deeper exchange of expertise and long-term commitment to regional stability.
Observers say the growing cooperation comes as Morocco seeks to assert a stronger presence in the Sahel, capitalising on Algeria’s deteriorating ties with its former allies.
Algiers’ diplomatic rift with Mali and a broader cooling of relations across the Sahel has created a vacuum in regional influence—one Rabat is strategically filling.
This new axis between Morocco and Burkina Faso could signal a broader reconfiguration of security partnerships in West Africa.
For Ouagadougou, the partnership promises enhanced military capability; for Rabat, it offers geopolitical leverage in a region where traditional power dynamics are shifting rapidly.
As Morocco invests in capacity-building and operational support, it is positioning itself not just as a counterbalance to Algeria, but as a reliable African partner ready to address shared threats.
The evolving partnership also underscores the growing importance of intra-African cooperation in the face of transnational security challenges, particularly in a Sahel region where alliances are increasingly fluid—and deeply consequential.
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