Foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will visit Moscow this week as part of efforts to strengthen ties with Russia. A statement issued, yesterday, said the ministers would arrive in Moscow on April 3 and meet Sergei Lavrov, their Russian counterpart.

The statement noted that the visit was at Lavrov’s behest. The ministers are undertaking the visit under the aegis of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a breakaway bloc from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), formed in retaliation to the sanctions imposed by the regional body to restore democracy in the junta-led nations.

Last week, AES imposed a 0.5 per cent import levy on ECOWAS nations, disrupting free trade within the region and heightening tensions with the bloc. The new group has also shunned traditional Western allies like France and the United States and turned towards Russia for military support.

“The Moscow meeting represents an important step in establishing strategic, pragmatic, dynamic and supportive cooperation and partnership relations in areas of common interest between AES and Russia,” the statement said.

The statement referred to this week’s visit as the first session of “AES-Russia consultations. Russia has been accused of playing a role in the overthrow of democracy in the French-speaking Sahelian countries through diplomatic backing and information operations.

The Moscow alleged role includes spreading anti-Western sentiment and promoting pro-Russian narratives. Earlier this year, Lavrov said Russia would establish additional embassies in Niger, Togo, Gambia and Liberia by 2026.