Russia’s Defence Minister, Andrei Belousov, met with Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister, Apollinaire J. Kyelem de Tambela, in Moscow on Tuesday to discuss bolstering military cooperation, according to a statement from the Russian defence ministry.
The meeting highlights Moscow’s ongoing efforts to expand its influence in Africa through a blend of military, diplomatic, and economic initiatives. Russia has been vying with Western powers for dominance on the continent, especially following its invasion of Ukraine, which has led to the most intense standoff between Moscow and Washington in decades.
Following President Vladimir Putin’s decisive re-election victory in March, several African media outlets viewed the result as a boost for nations like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, who have aligned themselves with Moscow’s stance.
Burkina Faso, which has been under military rule since a coup in 2022, has hosted elements of the Wagner mercenary group. The paramilitary force was founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash in 2024.
In June, Russia announced it would send additional military supplies and instructors to Burkina Faso to enhance the country’s defence capabilities and support its fight against terrorism, according to official statements.
Despite this move, Moscow’s overall investment in Africa remains minimal, as highlighted by United Nations data
Russia’s arms exports to sub-Saharan Africa have decreased in recent years, according to 2023 data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Despite a decline in exports, Russia remains the second-largest supplier of weapons to sub-Saharan Africa. At the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow had signed military-technical agreements with 40 African countries. These agreements could pave the way for increased Russian arms sales in the region.
“Russia-Burkina relations are based on the principles of mutual respect, consideration of each other’s interests, and have acquired positive dynamics in recent years,” the Russian defence ministry cited Belousov as saying in a post on the Telegram messaging app.
