Russia pledges support for Sahel states in fighting terrorism
Russia will continue to support Sahel countries in their fight against terrorism by helping to strengthen their armed forces, training security personnel, and providing humanitarian assistance, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.
Lavrov made the remarks during talks with Chadian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul. The two sides discussed regional security, including the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region and cooperation with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
“We intend to provide assistance to countries in the region on a bilateral basis, including by enhancing the combat readiness of national armed forces and training military and law enforcement personnel,” he said.
The foreign minister said Russia and its African partners are concerned about the growing threat from groups affiliated with Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) and Boko Haram spreading across the region. He also accused unnamed former colonial powers of attempting to undermine Russia’s ties with Sahel states, alleging that militants from Ukraine are being used alongside terrorist groups in destabilizing activities.
“Wherever the Ukrainians see an opportunity to damage what they perceive to be the interests of the Russian Federation, they will align themselves with anyone, including African extremists seeking to bring down legitimate governments, or any other dregs of society,” Lavrov said.
The Sahel has been embroiled in militant violence for over a decade, with factions linked to IS, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram carrying out attacks across Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and neighboring countries.
Since 2020, a wave of military coups has reshaped politics across the Sahel region in Africa, toppling civilian governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
France, once the region’s dominant external power, has steadily lost influence amid rising anti-French sentiment and deep frustration over insecurity, economic stagnation, and foreign interference. The former colonial power was forced to withdraw troops from Mali in 2022, Burkina Faso in 2023, Niger later that year, and Chad in early 2025.
About 4,500 soldiers had been deployed under Operation Barkhane, France’s largest overseas mission, across Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad – a campaign that the military governments in Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou have said only permitted Islamist insurgents to expand their activities.
The three West African states have established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and withdrawn from the International Organization of Francophone Nations (OIF) operating in Francophone countries, many of them former French colonies. The AES has forged new alliances, including with Russia, which its leaders hail as a more reliable economic and security partner.
Chad has also remained a key frontline state in the fight against militant groups, with Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants repeatedly targeting its forces around the Lake Chad region. In 2021, longtime Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno was killed while visiting troops battling rebels in the country’s north. More recently, Boko Haram attacks have killed dozens of Chadian soldiers, including at least 23 troops in an assault on a military post in the Lake Chad area in May.
Fadoul thanked Russia for its support in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel, saying Chad appreciates its efforts, particularly toward the AES countries.
The talks between Moscow and N’Djamena also covered trade, investment, energy, geological exploration, fertilizer production, and healthcare cooperation. Russia said it would increase scholarships for Chadian students from 300 to 360 annually.
Fadoul said Chad intends to pursue and deepen its “historic and enduring” cooperation with Russia, describing bilateral ties as based on “trust, mutual respect and reciprocal interests.” The two sides are also set to sign an agreement exempting holders of diplomatic and service passports from visa requirements.
