Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso foreign ministers to visit Russia this week

Foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to visit Moscow to deepen ties with Russia.
The upcoming visit to Moscow is the first session of 'AES-Russia consultations' to establish deeper ties.
The junta-led government seeks to build strategic partnerships with non-Western nations and has shifted military cooperation towards Russia.

The foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are set to visit Moscow this week as the Sahel nations work to deepen their ties with Russia, according to a joint statement from their foreign ministries on Tuesday.

The three West African nations, all governed by military juntas that came to power through recent coups, have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and established the Confederation of Sahel States (AES).

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Shifting alliances

Since their withdrawal from ECOWAS, the junta-led government has sought to strengthen self-reliance and build strategic partnerships with non-Western nations.

In recent years, they have expelled French and other Western forces, shifting their military cooperation towards Russia.

During their visit on April 3 and 4, the ministers will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at his invitation, the statement added.

"The Moscow meeting represents an important step in establishing strategic, pragmatic, dynamic and supportive cooperation and partnership relations in areas of common interest between the AES and Russia," the ministries said.

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The upcoming visit to Moscow has been described as the first session of "AES-Russia consultations," signalling a formal step in deepening ties between the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) and Russia.

The three Sahel nations, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, continue to battle a jihadist insurgency that has plagued the region for over 13 years, originating in Mali before spreading across the southern Sahara, according to Reuters.

Groups affiliated with both Islamic State and al-Qaeda have been responsible for the deaths of numerous people in the region.