As the Alliance of the Sahel States (AES), a very young regional group consisting of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, continue to seek full administrative autonomy, they are looking to Russia for key defense partnerships.
- The Alliance of the Sahel States (AES) comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger is seeking full administrative autonomy
- The AES is shifting military and diplomatic ties from traditional Western partners to Russia for strategic cooperation
- The AES nations are working with Russia on military equipment and seek to develop military capabilities in the region
In a remarkable geopolitical shift, the AES, which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, is rapidly realigning its military and diplomatic ties, moving away from traditional Western partners, particularly France, and moving toward Russia for strategic cooperation.
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Very recently, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop told Sputnik, that acquiring military equipment is becoming an increasingly important issue.
The AES nations will try “to ensure that, with the Russian partner who has the technology and proven experience, in conjunction with Russian companies and the Russian state, we can also create military capabilities in the AES region,” he said.
“We are already working with Russia on several projects, whether in the security, diplomatic, or economic fields. Our countries want to strengthen our capabilities, and develop autonomy so that we can break away from dependency patterns,” he also highlighted.
This decision demonstrates the three nations’ strong assertion of autonomy since all of them have lately cut links with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), citing the bloc’s perceived devotion to Western powers and failure to properly manage regional security issues.
Russia’s growing influence in West Africa
The AES, founded on a shared vision of regional solidarity and mutual defense, represents a fundamental shift in West Africa’s political climate.
In recent years, each member of the alliance has faced military coups and considerable popular unhappiness with Western countries’ presence and policies, notably France, the previous colonial ruler.
Anti-French sentiments have risen in these nations, spurred by decades of military intervention, which critics believe has done nothing to curb the spread of Islamist insurgencies or enhance local security.
As France’s influence declines, Russia has emerged as a more appealing option.
The AES sees Moscow as a counterweight to Western supremacy and has supplied military assistance, training, and hardware support.
Russia’s interest is based not just on its military capabilities, but also on its hands-off attitude to domestic administration.
Unlike many Western countries that condition aid and collaboration on democratic changes and human rights standards, Russia sees itself as a partner that values state sovereignty.
AES’s rejection of Western influence in recent years
In 2023, Niger’s military junta banned the French relief organization Acted and the local NGO Niger’s Action for Well-Being, canceling their licenses without explanation. They also removed France’s ambassador, severely straining relations with France.
Similarly, in early 2022, Mali removed France’s ambassador, causing France to withdraw its soldiers and the Takuba force, thereby terminating their collaboration.
Mali in August 2022, while French forces left Burkina Faso in February 2023.
The 400-member Operation Sabre, which was sent in 2009 to combat armed organizations such as al-Qaeda in the region, discreetly withdrew after Burkina Faso’s military-led government requested their leave in January, citing a four-week withdrawal deadline.
