Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, vowed increased assistance to Burkina Faso in combatting militant groups as part of his rapid tour of West Africa, aimed at stepping into the void left by the region’s traditional Western allies.
Speaking at a press conference in Ouagadougou, the capital city, Lavrov outlined Russia’s commitment to bolster support for Burkina Faso during his third stop on his latest Africa visit, following visits to Guinea and the Republic of Congo.
Against the backdrop of Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine, Russia is seeking to strengthen ties with the region, as several African nations have expressed discontent with their conventional Western partners like France and the United States.
Lavrov highlighted the presence of Russian instructors in Burkina Faso, emphasizing plans to expand their numbers. He underscored Russia’s ongoing efforts to train the country’s military and law enforcement personnel, along with supplying military equipment to enhance Burkina Faso’s defense capabilities and combat residual terrorist groups.
Commending Burkina Faso’s “objective and fair” stance on the conflict in Ukraine, Lavrov affirmed Russia’s readiness to support African nations striving to emancipate themselves from neo-colonial influences.
Burkina Faso, a nation of 20 million, has endured significant turmoil over the past eight years, grappling with violence from extremist factions loosely linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State, as well as clashes between government forces and militants.
In the midst of this unrest, Burkina Faso experienced two coups in less than a year, the latest occurring last year when a military junta expelled French forces and turned to Russia for security assistance. However, the junta has struggled to address the security and humanitarian crises plaguing the nation.
Burkina Faso has been recognized as the world’s most neglected crisis for the second consecutive year, with a staggering 6.3 million people in need of humanitarian aid in 2024, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. The country’s resources are stretched thin, leaving millions at risk of starvation and displacement.
Jan Egeland, the council’s secretary-general, noted the withdrawal of financial support from Western governments in the Sahel region, exacerbating the cycle of poverty, violence, and extremism.
“The disengagement of the West is bringing them no influence in the region,” Egeland said. “But I haven’t seen Russia helping us in our humanitarian work or doing development programs, so the Russian approach is not going to bring relief that the people need.”
But, he added, “I see Russian flags in Burkina Faso. I don’t see European flags.”
As Lavrov continued his tour, arriving in Chad later that day, attention remained on the plight of neglected crises across the region.
