Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa, has welcomed the arrival of about 100 Russian military personnel on Wednesday, as part of a security agreement with Moscow. The Russian Africa Corps, a new armed structure under the Defense Ministry, said in a statement that the troops would protect President Ibrahim Traoré, the leader of the military regime that seized power in a coup last September, and the Burkinabe people.
The deployment comes amid a surge of attacks and atrocities by armed Islamist groups in the Sahel region, which spans several countries including Mali, Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso. According to the United Nations, more than 2 million people have been displaced by the violence, and over 13 million need humanitarian assistance. The UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, has been the deadliest in the world, with more than 200 fatalities since its inception in 2013.
Russia’s involvement in the Sahel is not new. Moscow has been expanding its influence and military presence in the region since 2017 when it started providing support to the Wagner Group, a private military company linked to President Vladimir Putin. The Wagner Group has been accused of human rights violations and mercenary activities in several African countries, such as Libya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Mozambique. The Russian government has denied any official ties with the group but has acknowledged its cooperation with some African governments on security and counter-terrorism issues.
The Russian Africa Corps, which was created in 2023, is seen as a replacement for the Wagner Group and a more direct way for Moscow to assert its interests and values in Africa. The Corps works under the supervision of the Defense Ministry and has a mandate to train and equip local forces, as well as to conduct humanitarian and peacekeeping operations. The Corps said it plans to send 200 more troops to Burkina Faso in the coming weeks and is also negotiating with Niger to become a key military ally.
Russia’s growing role in the Sahel has raised concerns among some Western countries, especially France, which has been leading a military intervention in the region since 2013. France has about 5,000 troops in the Sahel as part of Operation Barkhane, which aims to combat the Islamist insurgency and support the local governments. France has also been working with the G5 Sahel, a regional alliance of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Mauritania, to coordinate their security efforts and development initiatives.
However, France’s presence in the Sahel has faced increasing criticism and resentment from some segments of the population, who accuse it of meddling in their internal affairs and failing to protect them from violence. Some African leaders, such as Mali’s coup leader Colonel Assimi Goita, have expressed their preference for Russia’s approach, which they perceive as more respectful and pragmatic. Goita, who met with Putin at the Russia-Africa summit in July 2023, has welcomed the deployment of Wagner Group mercenaries in Mali and has praised their role in helping the Malian army recapture the city of Kidal from the Tuareg rebels in November 2023.
The rivalry between Russia and France in the Sahel is part of a broader geopolitical competition for influence and resources in Africa, a continent that is home to more than 1.3 billion people and has vast natural wealth. China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States are also among the major players that are vying for a foothold in Africa, offering various forms of economic, political, and military assistance. While some analysts warn of a new scramble for Africa that could destabilize the continent and undermine its sovereignty, others see an opportunity for African countries to leverage their strategic position and benefit from the diverse partnerships.
Source: Bloomberg
