Russia Enhances Military Cooperation with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the intensification of military cooperation with Mali during a meeting with the foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in Moscow. The defense cooperation is progressing actively, with Russian soldiers working alongside the Malian military to train personnel. This meeting underscores Russia's growing influence in the Sahel region, marked by a shift in relations between these African nations and their former colonial power, France. Following coups between 2020 and 2023, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have sought closer ties with Russia, supported by the deployment of Russian personnel aiding in the fight against Islamist insurgents. In January, the three countries withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), alleging undue French influence, and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), initially a defense pact now aimed at broader political and economic integration. Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop praised the cooperation with Russia, announcing that President Assimi Goita would visit Moscow in June. Niger's Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare also hailed the meeting as historic. These developments are part of Russia's broader strategy to expand its influence in Africa, encompassing military, economic, and political dimensions. This growing presence could potentially heighten tensions with Western countries, particularly France, and impact international relations and the geopolitical landscape in Africa.