Sahel Ministers Visit Moscow to Strengthen Russian Ties

The foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will visit Moscow on April 3-4 to bolster ties with Russia, their governments announced in a joint statement on Tuesday. The visit comes at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The three West African nations, governed by military juntas following recent coups, have formed the Confederation of Sahel States (AES).

They expelled French and other Western forces and have turned to Russia for military support.

The meeting in Moscow marks the first session of “AES-Russia consultations” and is seen as a step toward establishing strategic and dynamic cooperation, the statement said.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are battling a jihadist insurgency that has plagued the Sahel region since it first emerged in Mali 13 years ago.

Reuters/Patience Ameh