MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Wednesday that Russia will be providing Burkina Faso with additional military supplies and instructors to enhance the country’s defence capabilities and combat terrorism, Russian state media reported.
Burkina Faso, which has been under military leadership following a coup in 2022, has recently seen the presence of Wagner mercenaries, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin until his demise in a plane crash last August.
During his visit to Burkina Faso, Lavrov emphasized the close engagement between the two countries since President Ibrahim Traoré assumed power, particularly in military and military-technical cooperation, as cited by TASS news agency. Lavrov expressed confidence that this collaboration would aid in eradicating the remaining terrorist strongholds within Burkina Faso’s territory.
Lavrov’s diplomatic visits to Africa amid the Ukraine conflict reflect Russia’s efforts to establish new trade partnerships and garner support from developing nations for its vision of a “multipolar world.” These visits also aim to counterbalance the dominance of the United States and former European colonial powers.
The deepening security ties between Russia and African countries, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, where military coups have occurred, have raised concerns among Western governments, particularly the U.S.
In a separate development, the RIA news agency reported negotiations between Russian aluminium giant Rusal and the government of Sierra Leone regarding a bauxite mining concession. This move follows Rusal’s existing operations in neighbouring Guinea.
Additionally, RIA mentioned plans for talks between Russia’s leading diamond producer, Alrosa, and Sierra Leone, though specifics were not provided. These developments were disclosed during the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
🔴 #LIVE: Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré hold a joint news conference following talks in Ouagadougou 🇷🇺🇧🇫 https://t.co/5ukSYLopbW
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) June 5, 2024
