Russia has committed to ongoing military assistance for the junta-led administrations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. These three nations established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a move that has intensified tensions with Western powers.
The announcement followed a high-level discussion in Niamey involving Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his counterparts from the three African nations. A joint statement confirmed that Moscow intends to bolster the combat capabilities of the AES armed forces, mirroring agreements established during previous talks in Moscow.
Since taking control through a series of coups between 2020 and 2023, these military regimes have pivoted away from France, their former colonial authority, to forge a deeper strategic relationship with the Kremlin. Russia and its Africa Corps units are currently aiding these nations in their security efforts against jihadist insurgencies that have claimed thousands of lives. Furthermore, Moscow is actively pursuing expanded cooperation in the mining and energy industries.
