By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger will jet out to Russia this week, where they are expected to meet with top officials of Russia’s Foreign Ministry in Moscow, the three African countries’ ministries said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
The meeting comes as the Sahel nations and Russia seek to deepen economic and security ties after the three countries severed relations with the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and introduced a 0.5 percent import duty on ECOWAS nations.
According to the statement, the foreign ministers will visit Moscow on 3 and 4 April and hold meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at his invitation.
“The Moscow meeting represents an important step in establishing strategic, pragmatic, dynamic and supportive cooperation and partnership relations in areas of common interest between the AES and Russia,” the ministries said.
It referred to this week’s visit as the first session of “AES-Russia consultations”.
After strained relations with their former colonial masters, France, the countries fighting a jihadist insurgency turned to Russia for security and economic partnership.
They have since expelled the French army, which had been helping to fight the jihadist insurgency in their region, an insurgency that took root 13 years ago.
In January, the West African nations announced their departure from ECOWAS, which they accused of being influenced by France, while leaning towards Russia in a bid to expand its influence in Africa.
The three countries have imposed an import duty on ECOWAS nations, ending the free trade that has existed for decades in the region, and announced that the tariffs will be used to fight insurgency in their countries.
They have since formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to strengthen ties within the bloc.
The three nations, which seized power through coups between 2020 and 2023, have stated their commitment to pursuing policies of independence.
