Russia has stepped up its courtship of Africa’s Sahel region, with Defence Minister Andrey Belousov declaring Moscow’s readiness to give the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) a serious boost in military muscle.
Fresh from high-level talks with defence chiefs from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in Moscow, Belousov praised the AES as “the result of the free choice of the Sahel peoples” — a choice, he said, that paves the way for “sustainable peaceful development.” Russia, he promised, is prepared to deliver “comprehensive assistance” to help secure borders, strengthen sovereignty, and keep insurgent threats at bay.
The meeting wasn’t just talk. Both sides agreed the four-party dialogue — Russia plus the three AES members — will serve as a regular platform to iron out security strategies, share intelligence, and build joint defence projects. Malian Defence Minister Sadio Camara, speaking for his counterparts, called the talks proof of a shared determination to forge a lasting strategic alliance. “Right now, defence is the biggest area of cooperation between our countries,” he said.
By the end of the session, the delegations had signed a joint statement and several memorandums of understanding, setting the stage for deeper collaboration in training, equipment supply, and coordinated security operations.
The AES — born in September 2023 as a mutual defence pact and transformed into a confederation on July 6, 2024 — has been seeking new partners since relations with many Western capitals turned cold. Russia, with its growing footprint in Africa through arms deals, trade, and infrastructure projects, has positioned itself as an alternative ally for governments battling jihadist insurgencies and political instability.
For Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the promise of Russian training, gear, and political backing could tip the scales in their fight against militants and cross-border crime. For Moscow, the handshake in Moscow signals another foothold in a part of the world where the balance of global influence is shifting fast.
