Russia and Sahel States Pledge Stronger Military Ties Amid Insurgent Attacks

By Reuters July 9, 2026 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has his counterparts from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. Russian Foreign Ministry Russia and the West African countries making up the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) have pledged to strengthen military cooperation as jihadist insurgents gain ground in the region, according to a joint statement issued on Wednesday night after talks in Niger's capital. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met his counterparts from Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, all of which have turned to Moscow for support after breaking with France and other Western allies. The officials welcomed "growing military and military-technical cooperation," including assistance from Russia's paramilitary Africa Corps. Russia confirmed its intention to continue helping to strengthen the armed forces of the AES member states and of their "Unified Force," the statement said. In April, the regional al-Qaeda affiliate and a Tuareg-led separatist group staged attacks across Mali and killed the country's defense minister. On Saturday, they attacked numerous army posts. Wednesday's joint statement alleged that "external state actors," including Ukraine and France, were involved in attacks in the region. Both have denied such allegations. Lavrov also visited Ethiopia on his Africa tour. A Russia-Africa summit is planned for October. Read more about: Africa , Mali , Niger , Burkina Faso Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russia Says Freed 2 Hostages Taken by Jihadists in Niger The two employees of Russian geology company were freed by a "special operation" carried out by Russia's Africa Corps in Mali, the Defense Ministry said... 2 Min read Russia Hosts First Military Meeting With Sahel Juntas The three countries are led by juntas which seized power in coups and have turned away from former colonial power France while moving closer to Russia... 2 Min read Russia, African Juntas Blast Ukraine as They Deepen Ties Moscow is hosting the foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger amid a broader push to expand its influence in Africa. 2 Min read Russian Foreign Ministry Accuses Ukraine of Opening 'Second Front' in Africa Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova blasted Kyiv for "pandering to terrorist groups in countries on the continent friendly to Moscow." 2 Min read