Written by: Badr Ahmed

Russia and the Sahel Alliance countries, which include Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, have pledged to enhance military and security cooperation in the face of escalating militant group activity in the Sahel region, according to a joint statement released Wednesday evening following official talks hosted in the Nigerien capital, Niamey.

The discussions came during a visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who met with his counterparts from the three countries as part of an African tour aimed at strengthening political and military relations between Moscow and its partners on the continent.

This visit comes at a time when Sahel countries are facing increasing security challenges, with continued attacks by groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Russia and Sahel countries pledge to strengthen military cooperation to confront escalating terrorism

The joint statement affirmed the parties' welcome of the growing military and military-technical cooperation between Russia and the alliance states, noting the continued support provided by the Russian Africa Corps, a paramilitary formation operating in a number of African countries.

Moscow also stressed its commitment to continuing to support the armed forces of member states and enhance their defense capabilities, as well as supporting the coalition's joint military force.

Relations between Russia and Sahel countries have seen remarkable development since military juntas came to power in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso through a series of coups in recent years.

These countries have turned to strengthening their cooperation with Moscow after ending their security partnerships with France and a number of Western allies, considering that the previous approach did not achieve the desired results in combating terrorism.

The announcement of enhanced military cooperation comes amid escalating armed attacks in Mali, where Al-Qaeda's branch in the region, in cooperation with a Tuareg-led separatist group, launched a series of attacks last April, resulting in casualties and losses among government forces.

Several military sites were also subjected to new attacks last Saturday, reflecting the ongoing security challenges facing the region.

The joint statement accused external entities, including Ukraine and France, of involvement in supporting the attacks occurring in the region, without providing evidence for these accusations. Paris and Kyiv have categorically denied these claims.

Ethiopia was one of the stops on the Russian foreign minister's tour of Africa, as Moscow prepares to hold a new Russia-Africa summit next October, as part of its efforts to strengthen its political, economic, and security influence on the continent.