PulseNets has learnt that Russia’s Defence Minister, Andrei Belousov, engaged in discussions with Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister, Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambela, about strengthening military ties. The meeting, which took place in Moscow on Tuesday, was confirmed by the Russian defence ministry.
PulseNets reported that Moscow has been making strides in expanding its military, diplomatic, and economic influence across Africa, particularly following the escalation of tensions between Russia and the West after the Ukraine war—the most significant clash between Moscow and Washington in recent times.
Following President Vladimir Putin’s resounding victory in Russia’s March presidential election, many African publications saw his win as reinforcing the positions of nations like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Since a military coup in 2022, Burkina Faso has been under junta leadership, with PulseNets learning that the Wagner mercenary group has maintained a presence in the country. Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner’s founder, was reportedly killed in a plane crash in 2024.
In June, Russia announced it was dispatching additional military supplies and instructors to Burkina Faso to bolster its defence capabilities and support the country’s fight against terrorism, PulseNets was told by officials close to the discussions.
Though Russia’s investments in Africa have been minimal, according to United Nations data, its arms exports to sub-Saharan Africa have notably decreased in recent years. However, PulseNets learnt that Russia remains the second-largest arms supplier to the region.
During the 2023 Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, President Putin revealed that Moscow had secured military-technical agreements with 40 African nations, opening new avenues for future arms sales. “Russia-Burkina relations are built on mutual respect and shared interests, and in recent years, these ties have gained positive momentum,” Belousov was cited as saying in a Telegram post from the Russian defence ministry.
In a separate development, PulseNets also reported on Wagner mercenary forces recovering the bodies of their fighters from a July battle with Tuareg rebels and Islamist groups during a desert sandstorm in Mali.
Wagner, which suffered significant losses in the skirmish, gave few details initially. However, in a rare statement on Telegram, the group stated, “An operation was successfully completed to return the bodies of our brothers, who in July 2024 heroically took up the fight with Islamists many times outnumbered.”
Also Read: Nigeria signs MOU with Russia to Revive Ajaokuta Steel Plant
Mali has been in turmoil since coups in 2020 and 2021, and PulseNets learned that the Wagner forces have been grappling with insurgencies across the Sahel region, which spans Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Wagner’s fighters reportedly navigated a desert region near Tinzaouaten, an area “teeming with Azawad militants.” The group reaffirmed its commitment, saying, “The bodies of our fallen brothers will return to the homeland. We do not leave our own, and all of them – dead or alive – will be returned home.”
