Russia has agreed to supply arms and military training to a newly established 5000-strong joint force formed by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, member countries of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), also known as the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS), are preparing to operationalize a joint force of 5,000 men in the coming weeks. This initiative aims to strengthen the fight against terrorism in the AES area.
These forces, equipped with their own aviation, equipment and intelligence, will operate in all three countries of the AES, protecting the region from the terrorist threat.
The concept was first proposed by West African defence chiefs on Thursday, June 27 to fight the region’s worsening security crises.
According to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Moscow will utilize its existing military instructors in the three West African nations to support the initiative.
In 2023, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso strengthened their alliance by signing a mutual defense pact to combat groups linked to both the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, which have caused numerous deaths across the region.
Mali’s Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Diop, hailed Russia as a permanent ally in the nation’s fight against “terrorism.”
“Our specialists can help develop and arm those forces with specific weapons and machinery,” Lavrov said.
Forces from the Kremlin-linked Wagner Group began deploying to Mali in 2021, followed by Burkina Faso and Niger.
Meanwhile, Burkina Faso has created a new rapid response forces, recruiting 14,000 soldiers and thousands of civilian support staff, to fight jihadist violence. This may likely be integrated with (or be part of) the new joint force in future.
Burkina Faso has been plagued by Islamist attacks in the last 10 years, leaving an estimated 26,000 soldiers and civilians dead.
Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo told the transitional parliament that the new battalions would bring the number of army rapid response forces in the country to 28 and police mobile units to 13.