Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, all former French colonies, are now in the “Alliance of Sahel States”. The alliance includes military aid where necessary. Why, one might ask are there ISIS style groups all over central and west Africa? Well, when Mali nationalises the French uranium mining business, when Burkina Faso nationalises the French gold business, Niger takes control of the French uranium mining interests, the colonial hosts gets upset. So ISIS appears.
Watch from about 14 minutes