The visit of the foreign ministers of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to the Russian Federation, within the framework of the first joint AES–Russia working session, is aimed at further reinforcing what are essentially allied relations between the Sahel alliance — comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — and Russia.
A Union of Pan-African Forces and a Multipolar World
The communiqué further emphasises that joint efforts are intended to respond to the deep aspirations of the peoples within the AES confederal territory. In this respect, the Moscow working meeting constitutes an important step in establishing a cooperative relationship and a strategic, pragmatic, dynamic, and solidarity-based partnership across all areas of mutual interest between AES and Russia, in line with the first-year Roadmap of the AES Confederation under Mali’s presidency.
The Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for its part, announced that the foreign ministers of the AES member states — Abdoulaye Diop, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, and Bakary Yaou Sangaré — had already held a joint preparatory working session upon their arrival in the Russian capital. This working session, chaired by Mali’s chief diplomat, was dedicated to determining the format of the AES–Russia meeting and discussing issues of mutual concern. In this context, the inaugural session of consultations with Russia is an ideal expression of the Confederation’s desire to speak with a single voice in the drive to harmonise diplomatic efforts and safeguard strategic interests at the confederal level.
In this regard, according to Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, the exchanges that will take place during the first joint AES–Russia working session will make it possible to establish a solid framework for consultations between both sides, with the aim of advancing mutual interests for the benefit of the populations of the participating states.
As reported by the Burkina24 news portal, the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso and Niger also stressed the importance and necessity of defining a methodology, approach, and common positions to enable productive exchanges with their Russian partners, all while addressing the hopes and expectations of the people of the AES confederation. And given that each of the three member states of the Alliance–Confederation of Sahel States has long maintained relations of friendship and cooperation with Russia, bilateral meetings will also form part of the visit programme for the delegations from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Together, We Shape the Rules of the Modern World Order
Some might call it a coincidence, but this sequence of visits by Russia’s key allies and strategic partners once again underscores the tremendous work being undertaken by the main forces of the modern multipolar world order. The visit to Russia by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, his meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and now the joint visit by the AES foreign ministers — all this, in essence, forms a continuous chain of events that the adversaries of a multipolar world can no longer hope to stop.
Despite the challenges and threats posed by the Western planetary minority and its subcontractors, the multipolar world and its rules are a reality that all will have to live with — radical nostalgics for the unipolar era included. And that’s that. In this direction, Russia and China’s African allies — true advocates of sovereignty, independence, and pan-African values — are playing a central role in a vast and shared effort. An effort that must not only be preserved, but must continue to grow.
There should be no illusions. The so-called “collective West”, that outspoken planetary minority, regardless of its slogans or temporary rhetoric, cannot serve as an ally to the supporters of a multipolar world. Not until it realises that it must undergo fundamental change. And that moment, frankly, remains a long way off.
Just as the West failed to drive a wedge between China and Russia, it will not succeed in reversing that equation either. And the same certainly holds true for Russia and Beijing’s African allies. Speaking of which — the principal African partners of the multipolar world undoubtedly include the member states of the Alliance–Confederation of Sahel States.
This friendship, this alliance — along with the widespread goodwill among the peoples of the AES Confederation — must be valued. We must promote our shared interests without paying heed to the opinions of those who, quite frankly, are none too pleased about it. And of course, we must strengthen and explore new avenues of cooperation, including in the realm of economic projects. This applies not only to big business but also to representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises. It is high time we acknowledged the immense potential in this direction — and understood that we must move forward hand-in-hand with those nations where we are genuinely welcomed. With those who are helping to shape the rules of the modern world.
Mikhail Gamandiy-Egorov, entrepreneur, political observer, and expert on Africa and the Middle East
