Russia’s Defence Minister, Andrei Belousov, and Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister, Apollinaire J. Kyelem de Tambela, met in Moscow to discuss the expansion of military ties, according to a statement from the Russian Defence Ministry on Tuesday.
This meeting is part of Moscow’s broader strategy to deepen military, diplomatic, and economic relationships in Africa, as it competes with the West for influence, particularly in the aftermath of the Ukraine war.
Following President Vladimir Putin’s re-election victory in March 2024, several African nations, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, have shown stronger support for Russia’s stance.
Burkina Faso, led by a military regime since a 2022 coup, has hosted forces from the Wagner Group, the Russian paramilitary organization whose leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died in a plane crash in 2024.
In June, Russia announced additional military support to Burkina Faso, including arms and instructors, to enhance its defense capabilities in combating terrorism.
While Russian investment in Africa has been relatively low, Russia remains the second-largest supplier of arms to sub-Saharan Africa, despite a decline in exports in recent years.
At the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, President Putin revealed that Moscow had signed military-technical agreements with 40 African nations, paving the way for increased arms sales across the continent.
Belousov emphasized the strengthening relationship between Russia and Burkina Faso, stating that it is based on “mutual respect and shared interests,” with recent years seeing positive developments in their cooperation.
