MOSCOW — Russia has pledged to provide arms and training to the newly formed military alliance between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, aimed at deploying a 5,000-strong regional force in the central Sahel, according to a joint statement released following high-level talks in Moscow.
Foreign ministers from the three West African nations — all led by military juntas that seized power in recent coups — met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to solidify ties and secure backing for the Alliance of Sahel States. This bloc, which broke away from the regional ECOWAS organization, has increasingly distanced itself from Western powers and embraced Russian support, particularly through Wagner Group mercenaries.
Russia expressed “unwavering support” for the alliance’s security initiative, promising to assist in acquiring advanced military hardware and offer specialized training for the joint force. The statement confirmed Russia’s readiness to provide “technical assistance,” though specifics were not disclosed.
The military coalition faces an ongoing jihadist insurgency that began in Mali in 2012 and has since engulfed much of the Sahel. The violence has led to thousands of civilian deaths and forced millions from their homes, with regional stability now hinging on the effectiveness of this new security partnership.