Russia has recently agreed to provide arms and military training to a newly formed joint force consisting of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, as reported by Bloomberg. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that Moscow will be deploying its existing military instructors in these West African nations to support this initiative.
This move comes as Moscow aims to expand its influence in the region by leveraging the instability in West Africa’s Sahel, which has been exacerbated by military coups and Islamist insurgencies. In 2023, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso signed a mutual defense pact to combat groups affiliated with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, which have been responsible for numerous casualties in the region.
Russia’s growing military presence in Africa is becoming more pronounced, with the deployment of forces from the Kremlin-linked Wagner Group in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger starting in 2021. These personnel have since been replaced by troops from the Africa Corps, as Moscow tightens its control over Wagner’s activities in Africa following the death of the group’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Mali’s Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Diop, has praised Russia as a steadfast ally in the nation’s fight against terrorism. However, the presence of Wagner Group mercenaries and the rise of military juntas in the Sahel states have coincided with an increase in violence, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). Reported fatalities in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso surged to a record 7,600 in the first half of 2024, marking a 190% increase compared to pre-military rule levels in 2021.
As Russia ramps up its military support in West Africa, concerns are growing about the impact of this intervention on the region’s security dynamics. The collaboration between Russia and the joint force of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso could have far-reaching implications for the Sahel’s stability and the fight against extremism in the region.
