What Happened
Burkina Faso’s prime minister, Christophe Joseph Marie Dabire, opened the door for potential talks with jihadist militant groups, saying his government "will need to find paths and ways to talk with those responsible for terrorist attacks" in order to end the country's ongoing security crisis, Reuters reported Feb. 4.

Why It Matters
Dabire’s statement comes after neighboring Mali also expressed interest in talks with jihadists for the first time. Burkina Faso and Mali's willingness to enter talks marks a new dynamic for the Sahel, which could bring the two closer together and open the door for a more coordinated regional dialogue on the ongoing crisis. It could also, however, expedite the withdrawal of French troops given France's opposition to Mali's efforts to engage in talks with jihadist groups.

Background
Groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State have waged an insurgency that escalated significantly in Burkina Faso and the rest of the Sahel over the past three years, plunging the region into a humanitarian and security crisis.