Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, May 11, 2025
Burkina Faso’s military junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has opened up on the future goals of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in view of its growing ties with Russia and amidst mounting pressure from former Western allies.
In an interview with Russian Broadcasting platform, Russia Today (RT), Traoré shared his bold vision of a Sahel region standing on its own, united against growing pressure from Western nations and neighbouring countries. He hinted that more nations might join the alliance soon, but stressed they need to strengthen their own union first. “”For now, what we need is to harmonise many things and lay the foundations. There are many policies to harmonise before allowing further memberships,” he told RT’s correspondent, Igor Kourachenko.
The AES, established as a mutual defence pact following ECOWAS sanctions on the three junta-led nations, has already made strides toward integration, including launching a joint biometric passport and abolishing roaming charges between member states.
The three Sahel states are witnessing impressive economic momentum. Niger’s booming with nearly 10% growth this year, putting it at the top in Africa and third globally, according to the World Bank. Burkina Faso has also seen significant growth rate at 5.5% and projected to be 5.6% in 2025, and Mali is keeping pace with 3.75% growth. Their secret, experts say, is strong oil sales and bumper harvests.
Traore said Burkina Faso has launched a major agricultural initiative primarily aimed at self-sufficiency but also geared towards foreign trade and exports. He said “the objective is to be able to increase our agricultural production significantly, to be self-sufficient, but also to sell outside, and all this must be able to support growth.”
Traoré also discussed the AES’s position on global politics, speaking extensively on the bloc’s growing partnership with Russia. The AES has made no secret of its goal to push back against what Traoré has labelled “neo-colonial” policies from ECOWAS.
He also reiterated his claims that the jihadist insurgents are backed by foreign elements, saying that the insurgents received technical support from these elements who are sent by forces whose sole intention is imperialism.
Traoré spoke warmly about Burkina Faso’s growing ties with Russia, pointing to recent moves to promote strong cooperation with Russia’s ministry of education in training technicians and engineers in several fields.
He also spoke extensively of military cooperation with Russia, which has resulted in increased supplies of military equipment’s to the Sahel states. An example of this support is a recent deal to back the AES’s combined 5,000-troop force. This military collaboration, experts say, has been a major support for military operations, like the “YEREKO 2” mission against Sahel-based jihadist groups.
While there are no direct, verifiable reports from genuine sources explicitly confirming Russian military assistance in logistics or weapons supply specifically for the operation, there is substantial evidence of Russia’s broader military support to these countries, which could indirectly relate to operations like YEREKO 2
The interview has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters hailed Traoré as a visionary leader, calling the AES “the wind of change.” Others have cautioned that the AES must establish a clear blueprint that emphasises its independence from foreign control before pushing for new geopolitical alliances.
Traoré’s vision shows the Sahel’s big ambitions as the alliance moves forward. This could really shake up West African politics, but it will not be easy. With diplomatic tensions rising and security risks growing, the road ahead looks rocky and uncertain.
