On Wednesday, a contingent of Russian military personnel arrived in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, marking a significant deployment of Russian troops to the West African country, according to two foreign security sources on Thursday.
Burkina Faso, led by a junta, has been under scrutiny for its relations with Moscow, especially after the expulsion of French troops in early 2023. This move fueled speculations about the country strengthening security ties with Russia, similar to neighboring Mali, where Russian mercenaries are already operating.
Details about the deployment are scarce, and foreign sources in Ouagadougou have not provided any additional information on the nature of the apparent Russian military presence.
The African Corps channel on the Telegram messaging app, which claims to be affiliated with Russia’s Defense Ministry, stated that a group of 100 servicemen had been sent to Burkina Faso to “ensure the safety of the country’s leader Ibrahim Traore and the Burkinabe people.” The channel also announced plans to deploy an additional 200 personnel in the near future. The Russian Defense Ministry has not responded to inquiries regarding this development.
The African Initiative, a pro-Kremlin Russian news agency covering African affairs, posted photos on Telegram showing people in army fatigues unloading equipment from a plane flying a Russian flag. The aircraft, identified as an Il-76, is a longstanding asset in the Russian military.
According to African Initiative, the images depicted the arrival of the initial 100 Russian servicemen in Ouagadougou. The agency claimed that these personnel would not only ensure security but also provide training to Burkinabe counterparts and participate in patrolling high-risk areas.
This deployment raises concerns in Western circles about Russia’s expanding influence in the Sahel region of Africa. The Sahel has witnessed a series of coups, bringing Moscow-friendly juntas to power in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. These developments are reshaping the regional conflict with insurgent groups linked to Islamic State and Al Qaeda.
The possibility of increased cooperation between Russia and Sahelian countries has grown, as evident from official visits by military leaders from Niger and Chad to Moscow in January. Western powers are closely monitoring the evolving dynamics in the region.
