Sahel States: Russia strengthens its military support to Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso

Increased support in the context of a break with the West

As the Alliance of Sahel States (ESA) shifts its focus away from former Western powers like France and the United States, Russia is stepping up its efforts to increase its influence in the region.
On April 3, 2025, Moscow confirmed its willingness to step up its military support for Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, providing them with military equipment and training their troops to strengthen the fight against jihadist groups.

Russia’s commitment: equipment, training and strategic advice

Provision of equipment and creation of a unified force

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Russia is ready to:

• Strengthening the defense capabilities of ESA countries through bilateral channels
• Participate in the training of the joint anti-jihadist force
• Provide military equipment essential to the creation of a unified force

Assistance extended to other strategic areas

Moscow offers comprehensive assistance to the AES in three priority areas:

• Defense and security
• Economy
• International diplomacy , particularly through strengthened collaboration within the UN.

The Sahel States: A Strategic Reorientation Towards Moscow

Break with the old order

The military regimes in power in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, following recent coups (2020-2023), have denounced their cooperation agreements with Western powers. They have also left the G5 Sahel , deeming the organization ineffective in the face of rising terrorism.

Creation of a joint military force

Faced with the security emergency, the AES plans to form a unified force of 5,000 soldiers to better combat armed terrorist groups in the area.

The Sahel: a region in a major security crisis

The Sahel region remains one of the epicenters of global terrorism:

• In 2023, nearly 4,000 terrorism-related deaths were recorded in the Sahel, representing 47% of global terrorist deaths, according to the 2024 Global Terrorism Index.
• Over the last fifteen years, the region has seen an explosion in the number of victims (+2860%) and incidents (+1266%).
• The three-border area, rich in mineral resources, remains particularly coveted by armed groups.

Conclusion

Russia is establishing itself as a strategic partner in the Sahel Alliance of States, at a time when Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are redefining their alliances to address security challenges. By strengthening its military, economic, and diplomatic support, Moscow is asserting its presence in a region marked by growing instability. The future of the fight against terrorism in the Sahel will largely depend on the success of this Russian-Sahelian cooperation and the ability of the states to build a unified and resilient force. The transformation process of the African continent.