By On April 30, 2025, a striking image emerged from a high-profile summit: Burkina Faso’s President Captain Ibrahim Traoré, clad in military fatigues, shaking hands with a Russian official amidst a backdrop of suited diplomats. The accompanying announcement from African Hub on X revealed a significant development—Russia has committed to providing increased military assistance to Burkina Faso, including weapons, gear, and troop training, to ensure the safety and security of Traoré’s regime in the face of potential Western intervention.
This move marks a pivotal moment in the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Sahel, where Burkina Faso, under Traoré’s leadership, is increasingly aligning with Moscow amid a backdrop of regional instability and global power struggles.
A Strategic Pivot for Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s trajectory under Traoré has been one of radical change. Traoré came to power in a September 2022 coup, overthrowing the military government of Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who himself had seized control earlier that year by toppling the democratic government of President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.
Traoré’s rise was fueled by frustration over the government’s inability to curb a growing jihadist insurgency, which has plagued the country since 2015. According to Wikipedia, the insurgency, linked to groups like Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, has led to devastating attacks, such as the 2021 assault in Gorgadji that killed 80 people and the 2021 Inata attack that claimed 53 lives, marking some of the deadliest blows to Burkina Faso’s military.
In response to these security challenges, Traoré has sought to reshape Burkina Faso’s international alliances. Historically reliant on French support, Burkina Faso has shifted away from its former colonial power since Traoré’s ascent.
This pivot was cemented when Burkina Faso, alongside Mali and Niger, formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in 2023, a mutual defense pact born out of regional crises, including the 2023 Niger coup. The AES countries, all under junta rule, withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the G5 Sahel framework, signaling a rejection of Western-backed regional structures. By March 2025, the AES introduced a common customs duty on non-members, further solidifying their economic independence.
Russia’s Growing Footprint in Africa
Russia’s commitment to Burkina Faso is part of a broader strategy to expand its influence across Africa, a continent increasingly at the center of a geopolitical contest between Moscow and the West. As noted in a 2023 Council on Foreign Relations report, Russia has been gaining ground in Africa through economic, diplomatic, and security ties, often to the dismay of Western powers who accuse Moscow of undermining democratic stability.
Despite a decline in arms exports to sub-Saharan Africa, Russia remains the second-largest supplier of weapons to the region, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Moscow’s engagement with Burkina Faso builds on earlier efforts. In June 2024, Reuters reported that Russia had sent military supplies and instructors to Burkina Faso to combat terrorism, a move that followed discussions between Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister Apollinaire J.
Kyelem de Tambela in October 2024. The latest commitment, however, goes further, explicitly aiming to protect Traoré’s regime from potential Western intervention—a nod to growing tensions with the West, particularly after Burkina Faso’s exit from French influence and its rejection of the CFA franc currency.
The image of Traoré shaking hands with a Russian official, likely at the Russia-Africa Summit (which Russia has hosted since 2019), symbolizes this deepening partnership. Traoré’s military attire stands in stark contrast to the formal suits of other leaders, underscoring his junta’s focus on security over diplomatic convention. Russia’s support comes at a critical time for Traoré, who extended his transitional mandate in 2024 amid ongoing insurgent threats and domestic unrest.
Implications for the Sahel and Beyond
The strengthening of Russia-Burkina Faso ties has far-reaching implications. For Burkina Faso, Russian assistance offers a lifeline against the jihadist insurgency that has displaced over 2 million people and killed thousands. The Burkina Faso Armed Forces have struggled to contain the violence, with civilian militias like the Koglweogo being recruited to fill the gap—a controversial measure that has raised concerns about human rights abuses.
Regionally, the AES bloc’s alignment with Russia could further destabilize the Sahel, a region already grappling with political upheaval and extremist violence. Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso’s rejection of ECOWAS and French influence has created a vacuum that Russia is eager to fill. Niger, a key uranium exporter to the EU, and Burkina Faso, with its strategic position, are resource-rich nations whose partnerships with Russia could shift the balance of power in the region.
For the West, this development is a cause for concern. The U.S. and its allies have accused Russia of using disinformation and mercenaries, such as the Wagner Group, to sow instability in Africa. The fear of a Western “humanitarian” intervention in Burkina Faso, as alluded to in the X post, reflects a broader anxiety among AES leaders about foreign interference.
ECOWAS’s threat to intervene militarily in Niger in 2023, following the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, heightened these tensions, prompting Mali and Burkina Faso to pledge military support to Niger and form the AES.
Globally, Russia’s move aligns with its vision of a “multipolar” world order, as noted by U.S. officials in the Council on Foreign Relations report. By deepening ties with African nations, Moscow seeks to counter Western dominance, leveraging military cooperation as a tool to gain political and economic footholds. The Russia-Africa Summit, where the photographed handshake likely took place, is a testament to this ambition—Russia has signed military agreements with 43 African countries since 2019.
A Delicate Balance Ahead
While Russia’s support may bolster Traoré’s regime in the short term, it comes with risks. Burkina Faso’s reliance on Russian arms and training could deepen its isolation from the West, potentially leading to economic sanctions or reduced aid. Moreover, Russia’s track record in Africa, marked by limited investment and a focus on security over development, raises questions about the long-term benefits for Burkina Faso’s population, many of whom continue to suffer from poverty and displacement.
For Traoré, the partnership with Russia is a gamble—a bid to secure his rule and address the jihadist threat, but one that could further entangle Burkina Faso in great power rivalries. As the Sahel becomes a battleground for competing influences, the people of Burkina Faso, caught between insurgency and geopolitical maneuvering, face an uncertain future.
The image of Traoré and the Russian official shaking hands may symbolize a new chapter for Burkina Faso, but it also underscores the complex and often perilous path ahead for a nation seeking stability in a fractured region.
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