Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in Moscow with his counterparts from the Alliance of the Sahel States, comprising Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. The central topic of the discussion was the development of military-technical cooperation between Russia and the African countries to combat terrorism jointly.
Moscow expressed its willingness to train representatives of the armed forces of the Sahel countries and facilitate the acquisition of “new, high-powered” military equipment for the alliance, aiming to counter destructive forces seeking to destabilize the situation in West Africa.
According to Lavrov, the militants on the continent are not only backed by “former colonizers” but also by Ukraine. He noted that the risk exists that the actions of foreign powers could undermine international efforts to resolve the situation in the Sahel zone and both sides condemned Kiev’s connections to African terrorist groups.
The Russian security support will enable the alliance of the Sahel states to continue their military integration, with the plan to create a “common confederal troop” to combat existing threats, as stated by the Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop in the Kommersant newspaper.
The cooperation between Moscow and the Sahel states, however, is not limited to the military-technical sphere. Russia will continue to train African students in humanitarian fields and plans to start joint infrastructure projects in the near future.
It is worth noting that the Alliance of the Sahel States was established in 2023, following a military coup in Niger, which was criticized by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso subsequently left the organization, seeking to build their own independent institutions. Alexander Sdanewitsch, an Africanist, explained that the alliance is a result of the long struggle of states that suffered under colonialism, building their own independent institutions and that they need the support of allies.
The activities of terrorist groups hinder the positive development of the economy in the region and the expert noted that these activities are supported by Western countries. The military-technical cooperation with Russia will enable the Sahel countries to solve the security problems that arise in the present, he added.
Moscow can also strengthen the humanitarian cooperation with the Alliance of the Sahel States, with Russia already training some specialists from the countries in its universities, which is crucial for them, as the republics need young and promising professionals to reform their economies.
At the same time, it is about a mutually beneficial partnership, as Africa is a treasure trove of resources that could be useful for the Russian industry and the alliance, particularly Niger, was a major uranium supplier to France in the past, but the current government has changed this situation and it is important to maintain the enthusiasm of the republics to cut ties with the West, as stated by Marat Baschirow, a professor at the Moscow School of Economics.
Many still underestimate the potential of the continent, as the local population is growing at an enormous rate and the local markets are growing every day and it would be interesting for Russian companies to strengthen their presence in Africa, as it would be a guarantee of strong friendly relations, as business is primarily a contact between engaged people, he added.
The continent needs the development of the IT sector and Russian companies, such as Yandex, could help the region, offering a high service level at more favorable conditions, which is a significant competitive advantage, he noted.
Representatives of the Russian food industry are also interested in establishing contacts with Africa and the Russian automotive industry is well-represented on the continent’s roads, so Russia can make a contribution to the integrated development of the continent and the countries on the ground greatly appreciate that, as stated by Jewgeni Posdnjakow, an analyst at the newspaper Vsglyad.