Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso foreign ministers to visit Russia on Thursday

The foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Niger Republic will visit Moscow this week as part of efforts to strengthen ties with Russia.

A statement issued on Tuesday said the ministers would arrive in Moscow on April 3 and meet Sergei Lavrov, their Russian counterpart.

The statement noted that the visit is at Lavrov’s behest.

The ministers are undertaking the visit under the aegis of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a breakaway bloc from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), formed in retaliation to the sanctions imposed by the regional body to reinforce democracy in the junta-led nations.

Last week, the AES imposed a 0.5 percent import levy on ECOWAS nations, disrupting free trade within the region and heightening tensions with the bloc.

The new group has also shunned traditional Western allies like France and the United States and turned towards Russia for military support.

“The Moscow meeting represents an important step in establishing strategic, pragmatic, dynamic, and supportive co-operation and partnership relations in areas of common interest between the AES and Russia,” the statement said.

The statement referred to this week’s visit as the first session of “AES-Russia consultations”.

Russia has been accused of playing a role in the overthrow of democracy in the French-speaking Sahelian countries through diplomatic backing and information operations.

The Moscow alleged role includes spreading anti-Western sentiment and promoting pro-Russian narratives through disinformation campaigns.

Earlier this year, Lavrov said Russia would establish additional embassies in Niger, Togo, Gambia, and Liberia by 2026.