Russia has committed to providing military backing to the Sahel region’s juntas, specifically in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
The country’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, made the announcement during a meeting with the foreign ministers of the three West African nations in Moscow.
Russia has agreed to facilitate the acquisition of major military equipment and training for a planned 5,000-strong joint force.
The Sahel region has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency that has spread across the region since 2012, killing thousands of civilians and displacing millions.
The three countries’ armies have been fighting the insurgency, and Russia’s support is seen as a significant boost to their efforts.
It’s worth noting that the Sahel region has seen a decline in relations with Western countries, particularly France, which has been involved in the region’s counter-terrorism efforts.
The region’s juntas have increasingly turned to Russia for military support, with the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary outfit, already active in the region.
