THE foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will visit Moscow on April 3 and 4 to launch formal diplomatic consultations with Russia, according to a joint statement released Tuesday by the three governments and reported by Reuters.
The visit marks the first official session of what the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) has called ‘AES-Russia consultations’, aimed at building a strategic and multifaceted partnership with Moscow. The Sahel nations—each led by military juntas following recent coups—have increasingly distanced themselves from Western powers, pivoting toward Russia for both military cooperation and diplomatic engagement.
According to the joint statement, the ministers are scheduled to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during their visit, following his formal invitation.
‘This Moscow meeting represents an important step in establishing strategic, pragmatic, dynamic and supportive cooperation and partnership relations in areas of common interest between the AES and Russia,’ the statement said.
Security cooperation drives partnership
The move is part of a broader realignment by the three West African nations, who in 2023 formed the Confederation of Sahel States—a political and military alliance forged in response to the withdrawal of French and other Western forces. The AES bloc has cited repeated frustrations with Western security partnerships and growing security threats in the region.
The three countries are battling a prolonged jihadist insurgency that began in Mali more than a decade ago and has since spread across much of the central Sahel. As Western engagement waned, the bloc turned increasingly to Moscow for support in counterterrorism operations and military logistics.
Russia has in recent years expanded its influence in Africa through military cooperation agreements, arms deals, and the deployment of private military contractors—moves that have drawn criticism from Western governments.
Formalising AES-Russia cooperation
This week’s visit is expected to formalise AES-Russia relations and set the stage for more structured cooperation across defence, security, economic development, and diplomacy. While no specific agreements have yet been disclosed, officials from both sides suggest that long-term strategic alignment is underway.
The talks also serve to reinforce the geopolitical repositioning of the Sahel bloc, which is steadily building its own foreign policy identity outside traditional Western influence.
The AES continues to face mounting security and development challenges, and its growing alignment with Russia reflects an urgent search for alternative partnerships to stabilise the region and rebuild state capacity.
