Russia’s push for stronger ties with the new military juntas in the Sahelian states of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger was affirmed with the recent visit by a Russian delegation to these countries.
The Russian delegation met with officials of the juntas in the three Sahelian states to strengthen military cooperation in what many fear may open the way for a new arms race between global powers in the region.
In a development following meetings with the Russians, Niger’s junta on Monday scrapped two key military agreements that the West African nation signed with the European Union to help fight the violence in Africa’s Sahel region.
The delegation to Mali, led by Russian Deputy Minister of Defense, Alexander Evkurov, was received in Bamako, Mali before leaving for Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Following a working session attended by top Malian officials, the Russian delegation was received in audience at the Koulouba Palace by the President of the Transition, Colonel Assimi Goïta. The Russian delegation included experts in the fields of security, the economy and especially infrastructure.
The visit to Niamey, the Nigerièn capital, was the first by a senior Russian official since the coup. The delegation had an exchange meeting chaired by the Nigerièn Minister of State for National Defense, Lieutenant General Salifou Modi.
At the centre of the discussions was the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries in the field of Defence. A working session organised to draw out key areas for discussions was attended by several military officials. The delegation was able to meet General Abdourahamane Tiani.
Niger’s moves towards strengthening relations with Russia is the latest efforts in the Sahel to shift alliances away from the west. Mali and Burkina Faso have already established strong diplomatic relations with Russia. This move signals strong indications that the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has clearly chosen Russia as a strategic partner.
This move, analysts say, will raise serious concerns in the west, as huge investments in security appear under threat of being terminated.
The visit to Niger came a day after the new Ambassador of the United States to Niger, Kathleen FitzGibbon, presented her credentials to Bakary Yao Sangaré, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ruling junta.
Political analysts say this appears to represent a shift in the position of the U.S government, which had insisted that it only recognises the ousted president, Bazoum, as the legitimate leader of the country.
The new move by the U.S government is seen by many as an attempt to maintain its military presence of over 1000 personnel in the country.
However, pundits say, further pressure from the west, particularly France and the United States, and ECOWAS for the military regimes to give up power has spurred the new push for alternative military alliances that would act as deterrence to possible external military intervention.