The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has secured continued Russian military support as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger seek to strengthen their security capabilities against persistent insurgent threats across the Sahel.
The commitment was announced on Wednesday in a joint statement issued after talks in Niamey between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the foreign ministers of the three AES member states.
According to them, Moscow will continue to support efforts to enhance the operational capacity of the armed forces of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger as they confront persistent security challenges across the region.
Lavrov’s visit to Niamey followed a similar high-level meeting held in Moscow in April 2025, aimed at deepening political, security and economic cooperation between Russia and the regional bloc.
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Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, all governed by military administrations that seized power through coups between 2020 and 2023, formed the Alliance of Sahel States after severing defence and diplomatic ties with former colonial power France and strengthening relations with Russia.
Russia, through its Africa Corps paramilitary force, has been supporting the three countries in their fight against jihadist insurgencies that have claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of people across the Sahel. Recent attacks in parts of Mali have underscored the continuing security challenges facing the region.
Beyond security cooperation, Moscow is also seeking to expand partnerships with the three countries in the energy and mining sectors as both sides pursue closer economic ties.
The Niamey meeting highlighted the growing strategic relationship between Russia and the AES as the three Sahel nations continue to diversify their international partnerships while seeking solutions to longstanding security and development challenges
Africanews
