The foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will travel to Moscow this week to strengthen ties with Russia, their governments announced Tuesday. The visit, scheduled for April 3 and 4, comes as the three Sahel nations deepen their cooperation with Moscow after expelling Western military forces.
The ministers will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at his invitation, marking the first session of what has been called “AES-Russia consultations.” The trip is seen as a key step in forging strategic and practical partnerships, the countries said in a joint statement.
The three nations, all led by military juntas following coups in recent years, have formed the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). They have sought Russian support in their ongoing fight against jihadist insurgents, who have spread violence across the region since the conflict began in Mali 13 years ago.
