Sahel Alliance Deepens Ties with Russia in First Official Talks

Foreign ministers from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger meet in Moscow to solidify military, political, and economic cooperation with Russia, marking a pivotal shift in regional alliances.

• The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) foreign ministers held their first official talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, emphasizing strengthened ties after breaking from Western allies.
• Russia committed to training AES forces, supplying military equipment, and supporting the creation of a joint armed force to combat jihadist insurgencies in the region.
• The AES and Russia announced plans to expand cooperation into energy, mining, and regional development, supported by a newly established Sahel regional investment bank.
• Both parties condemned Ukraine as a 'terrorist state,' aligning politically against Western influence and reinforcing shared narratives about regional destabilization.
• The AES foreign ministers described Russia as a 'sincere and constant ally,' seeking a 'win-win partnership' to address security and development challenges in the Sahel.

3 Articles

RFI