Russia’s Energy minister, Sergei Tsivilev, led a high-level delegation to the Sahel region as part of Russia’s push to expand its influence in Africa. The visit, which included stops in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, drew spotlight on Moscow’s strategic shift towards the Sahel, a region that has increasingly distanced itself from traditional Western partners.
The delegation, which also featured Deputy Defense Minister, Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, and Lieutenant General Andrei Averyanov, focused on deepening economic, energy, and security cooperation with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Niger, Mali, and Burkina. The visit began in Niamey, where Tsivilev met with Niger’s military president, Abdourahamane Tiani, Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zein, and Minister of Mines Ousmane Abarshi.
A major achievement was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, and Niger’s Ministry of Energy. The agreement aims to foster cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy, encompassing not only uranium mining but also nuclear medicine, infrastructure development, and specialist training.
“Our mission is not simply to participate in uranium mining but to create a comprehensive system for the development of peaceful nuclear energy in Niger,” Tsivilev emphasised. This move comes as Niger seeks alternatives to its historical reliance on France for uranium exports, with French companies like Orano losing control of key mines following the 2023 military coup.
The delegation proceeded to Bamako, Mali, on July 29, where Tsivilev co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the Russian-Malian intergovernmental commission alongside Malian ministers. This marked the first such high-level format with a Sahel state, highlighting Moscow’s intent to institutionalise ties. Discussions covered energy, including nuclear and renewable sources, gold mining, cybersecurity, agriculture, and logistics.
A key outcome was an agreement to create a “heat map” of mineral deposits to guide future joint projects. Representatives from Rosatom, Sberbank, and other Russian firms participated, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the proposed partnership.
The tour concluded in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on July 30, where Tsivilev met President Ibrahim Traoré. The talks focused on establishing a Russian-Burkinabe intergovernmental commission to coordinate cooperation in energy, industry, infrastructure, and security. A notable gesture was Russia’s donation of a mobile microbiological laboratory, capable of conducting 800 tests daily, to be delivered by December.
The initiative intends to build Burkina Faso’s healthcare capacity, particularly in remote areas. “Russia offers not just resources but mechanisms for sustainable cooperation,” Tsivilev noted, positioning Moscow’s approach as a pragmatic alternative to Western models.
Military cooperation was a parallel focus, with Yevkurov and Averyanov engaging defence officials in each country. In Niger, they met Defence minister, Salif Modi, and Chief of General Staff, Major General Moussa Salaou Barmou, to discuss military-technical cooperation, including training and equipment transfers.
In Mali, talks with Defence minister, Sadio Camara, highlighted joint operations with the Russian-backed Africa Corps against terrorism and separatism. Analysts believe that these discussions are clear signs Russia’s growing role as a security partner in the Sahel, filling a void left by the withdrawal of French and U.S. forces. However, these new partnerships, government sources insist, give the Sahel states far more leverage than their alliances with the West ever did.
Analysts note that while Russia’s offers of nuclear technology, infrastructure, and security support are appealing, the region’s challenges, poverty, corruption, and ongoing insurgencies, require long-term solutions that Moscow’s interventions may not fully address. Nonetheless, the Sahel’s strategic importance and rich resources make it a focal point for Russia’s African policy.
As Tsivilev coordinates Russia’s intergovernmental commissions with the Sahel, the visit marks a new chapter in Russia-Africa relations. With the AES seeking greater autonomy, Russia’s pragmatic partnerships could reshape the region’s geopolitical landscape for decades.
