Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger deepen ties with Russia in high-level Moscow visit

The foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are set to visit Moscow this week as the Sahel nations strengthen their alliance with Russia, according to a joint statement from their foreign ministries on Tuesday.

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

The bloc has distanced itself from France and other Western powers, instead seeking military cooperation with Russia.

During their visit on April 3 and 4, the ministers will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at his invitation. The statement described the talks as a crucial step toward establishing “strategic, pragmatic, dynamic and supportive cooperation and partnership relations in areas of common interest between the AES and Russia.”

This visit marks the first session of “AES-Russia consultations,” signaling a deepening of ties between Moscow and the Sahel states. The three nations are battling an insurgency that has plagued the region for over a decade, first emerging in Mali before spreading across the Sahel.

The shift toward Russia underscores a broader geopolitical realignment in the region, as the countries seek alternative military and diplomatic partnerships amid ongoing security challenges.