Russia has pledged to assist the military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in acquiring arms and training for a planned 5,000-strong regional force, according to a joint statement issued on Friday.
The three West African nations, which have each undergone coups in recent years, formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) after expelling French and Western forces. The alliance has turned to Russia, particularly Wagner-affiliated fighters, for military support and has formally withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
During meetings in Moscow that began Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s “unwavering support” for the joint force announced in January. The discussions included commitments to facilitate the acquisition of “major and high-performance military equipment and appropriate training,” with Russia prepared to provide “the necessary technical assistance,” according to the statement.
While specific details of the assistance were not disclosed, the move signals deepening military ties between Russia and the Sahel states, which are battling a jihadist insurgency that has plagued the region since 2012. The conflict, originating in Mali, has spread across the central Sahel, leading to the deaths of thousands and the displacement of millions.