Imagine the quiet deserts of Africa, where three nations—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—are choosing to walk a path less traveled, a path that pivots away from historical alliances, particularly with Western powers like France. Can you envision the implications of such a shift? Moving away from the familiar, these nations are reaching out towards Russia, forging new military and diplomatic bonds in pursuit of shared goals and future resilience.
Not too long ago, Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop candidly spoke of the critical nature of acquiring military equipment. His words echo the changing winds experienced by many African countries: “We’re working with Russia not just for security, but for our diplomatic and economic advancements. It’s about enhancing our capabilities and building autonomy from patterns of dependency,” he emphasizes.
It’s not about breaking alliances, but fostering growth. Diop’s remarks highlight a determined stride towards forging indigenous military capabilities in collaboration with Russia—recognized globally for its prowess in both technology and experience. With the Russian partner, the AES aims to craft capabilities that resonate with their newfound autonomy.
This is a bold proclamation of independence and self-determination, a sentiment shared by all three nations. Recently, they distanced themselves from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), calling out ECOWAS’s allegiance to Western interests and its lack of efficacy in managing the region’s pressing security issues.
Russia’s Expanding Influence in West Africa
This alliance, built upon a foundation of shared regional solidarity and mutual defense, marks a significant change in West Africa’s political sphere. Each country within the AES has confronted its unique challenges, from military coups to public dissent against Western interventionist policies, particularly those of France, their former colonial overseer.
Anti-French sentiments, fueled by decades of French military involvement, have heightened. Critics argue these interventions have neither contained Islamist insurgencies nor enhanced local security effectively. With France’s influence waning, Russia has stepped in, offering a compelling alternative.
To the AES, Russia is more than a military ally; it’s a strategic partner challenging Western dominance—a sentiment crystallized in Moscow’s provision of military aid, training, and hardware to these nations. Russia’s appeal lies in its military prowess, but equally, in its respect for state sovereignty, a stark contrast to the Western approach which couples assistance with demands for democratic reform and human rights criteria.
AES’s Rejection of Western Influence in Recent Years
The year 2023 unfolded with Niger’s military government expelling France’s ambassador and disallowing the operation of French aid groups like Acted without offering explanations—a move that further strained their ties with France. This action mirrored earlier events from Mali in 2022, which led to France recalling its ambassador and withdrawing military forces, including the Takuba Task Force.
French troops left Burkina Faso in February 2023. Symbolically, this retreat punctuated the closure of Operation Sabre, an initiative launched in 2009 to counter armed threats such as al-Qaeda in the region. Their quiet exit upon request of Burkina Faso’s government speaks volumes about the shifting paradigms in the region’s geopolitical landscape.
The narrative evolving in the AES could be seen as one of rupture or redefinition—a detachment from past influences or a bold assertion of individual agency and sovereignty. What remains to be seen, however, is whether this reorientation will fulfill the aspirations of these nations or carve out a legacy of apprehension and unexpected challenges. Are we witnessing a strategic step forward, or merely a new tango in the same treacherous terrain?
