Russia has reaffirmed its commitment to continue providing military assistance to the military-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), as the countries deepen their security cooperation with Moscow.
The pledge was announced in a joint statement issued on Wednesday during the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Niger.
Lavrov travelled to Niamey for a high-level meeting with the foreign ministers of the three Sahel nations, following a similar diplomatic engagement held in Moscow in April 2025.
According to the joint statement, Russia will continue supporting efforts to strengthen the operational capabilities of the armed forces of the Alliance of Sahel States.
The three West African countries are currently governed by military administrations that assumed power through separate coups between 2020 and 2023.
Since taking office, the governments have distanced themselves from former colonial power France and expanded political, military and economic cooperation with Russia.
Russia has provided military assistance through its Africa Corps, supporting operations against jihadist groups responsible for years of deadly attacks and widespread insecurity across large parts of the Sahel region.
Beyond security cooperation, Moscow is also seeking to strengthen partnerships with the three countries in key sectors, including energy and mining, as it continues to expand its influence across Africa.
