US Seeks to Reset Ties with Mali, Burkina, Niger as Sahel States Tilt Toward Russia, China

The United States is seeking to rebuild relations with Mali and its neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger, signalling a shift in policy after years of strained ties and growing concern over the three countries’ deepening links with Russia and China.

The State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs said Washington is pursuing renewed cooperation with the three military-led governments, with a focus on security and economic partnership.

A senior US official is travelling to Bamako to reaffirm America’s respect for Mali’s sovereignty and underscore its commitment to resetting bilateral relations.

US officials say the visit is aimed at moving beyond past policy missteps and restoring dialogue with governments that had been largely isolated after seizing power.

The move marks a softening of Washington’s earlier approach, which had emphasised diplomatic pressure and limits on engagement to push the juntas toward a return to civilian rule.

Following the coups, the United States curtailed some security cooperation and suspended parts of its assistance.

 

Analysts say the renewed outreach reflects Washington’s concern that years of disengagement have created space for rivals to expand their influence in the Sahel.

Since breaking with Western partners, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have strengthened political, military and economic ties with Russia and China.

The three governments have turned to Russian security contractors and advisers for support against insurgents, while Beijing has expanded its role through infrastructure projects, mining investments and trade.

The shift eastward accelerated after France and other Western countries withdrew troops from the region, and after US forces were asked to leave parts of the Sahel following Niger’s 2023 coup.

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger sit at the centre of one of Africa’s most volatile regions, where militant Islamist groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have carried out persistent attacks, displacing millions and weakening state authority.

Mali’s military first seized power in 2020, citing corruption and failures to contain insurgents, and tightened its grip in a second coup in 2021.

Burkina Faso followed with two coups in 2022, bringing Captain Ibrahim Traoré to power. In Niger, soldiers overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023.

The takeovers drew condemnation from the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which suspended the three countries and imposed sanctions at various stages, demanding clear timelines for a return to constitutional rule.

Relations with regional bodies deteriorated further after Niger’s coup, when ECOWAS threatened military intervention and tightened economic measures.

In response, the three juntas accused the bloc of undermining their sovereignty and acting under foreign influence.

In 2025, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger formally withdrew from ECOWAS, ending decades of membership in West Africa’s main political and economic organisation.

They later deepened cooperation through a separate alliance focused on defence and political coordination.

The break with ECOWAS and continued tensions with the African Union deepened the Sahel states’ isolation from much of the region and from Western partners.

At the same time, the military governments reduced cooperation with traditional allies such as the United States and France, expelled foreign troops and shifted toward Moscow and Beijing for security backing and investment.

Washington’s renewed engagement suggests a recalibration of its Africa policy, balancing its support for democratic governance with concerns over instability and geopolitical competition.

US officials say the new approach will prioritise practical cooperation, including counterterrorism, trade and economic development, while continuing to encourage inclusive political transitions.

It remains unclear whether the shift will lead to a full restoration of security ties or major new investment. But diplomats say the outreach reflects recognition that prolonged isolation has failed to stabilise the region and has pushed key Sahel states closer to rival powers.

The visit to Bamako is expected to include talks with Mali’s military leadership and discussions on expanding dialogue with Burkina Faso and Niger in the coming months.

gandae@businessdayafrica.org