The second ministerial consultations between Russia and the Confederation of Sahel States, Niamey

Photo: MFA

Press release on the second ministerial consultations between Russia and the Confederation of Sahel States.

On July 8, the second ministerial consultations between the Russian Federation and the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) took place in Niamey, co-chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré.

The ministers held in-depth discussions on strengthening the Russia-CSS dialogue mechanism, including deepening political ties and expanding cooperation in the areas of security, trade, the economy, humanitarian affairs, and other fields. They also conducted a candid exchange of views on the situation in the Sahel-Sahara region.

The consultations reaffirmed the parties’ aligned positions on most of the issues discussed. The ministers agreed to enhance coordination within the United Nations and other multilateral forums.

Particular attention was devoted to broadening multifaceted cooperation in preparation for the third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled to take place in Moscow in the autumn of 2026.

Following the meeting, the parties signed a Memorandum on Consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Russia and the Confederation of Sahel States and adopted a Plan of Interministerial Consultations for 2026–2027. The priority areas for future cooperation are set out in the Joint Statement signed by the parties.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s answers to media questions during a joint news conference with Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad Karamoko Traore following the second Russia-Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) ministerial meeting.

Photo: MFA

Question (retranslated): What mechanisms does your country offer to the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS) for a balanced and mutually beneficial partnership between the states?

Sergey Lavrov: We specifically focused on this matter today and discussed our results to date as well as future objectives.

Just an hour ago, President of the Republic of the Niger Abdourahamane Tchiani received us. We told him about our works, and what agreements have been formalised today. A joint statement has been adopted. It will be circulated for you to review. A memorandum has been adopted that establishes a regime of regular consultations between the foreign ministries. The first specific plan of such consultations for the next two years is attached to the memorandum.

The objectives mentioned in your question concern the establishment of further mechanisms for this group of four – the Confederation of Sahel States and the Russian Federation. This is our second meeting at the level of foreign ministers. The first meeting was held in Moscow. In September 2025, we held one more session on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. We have agreed to meet in Russia next year.

We will take an opportunity to hold a meeting at every multilateral event we all attend. This will create a regularity in our contacts and proper monitoring of the implementation of our common agreements.

Among the main ideas supported today is extending our cooperation in the three plus one format to other areas besides foreign policy – primarily the economy and finance, including cooperation between central banks. We discussed the establishment of interparliamentary cooperation that should serve our common interests. This is another promising field considering the role of parliaments in legislative activity.

We discussed how we are going to use our cooperation mechanisms within the United Nations, including cooperation within the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter. The group is a rather relevant format in view of the continuous attempts by our Western colleagues to either undermine the fundamental principles of the UN Charter or to interpret certain articles of the Charter in their favour, selectively and on a case-by-case basis.

The topic of counter-terrorism was, obviously, among our priorities today. There is also room for new mechanisms that can continuously monitor the factors stalling our development, including exposure and interception of financing channels. Terrorism is a problem that is highly topical for both the CSS and the Russian Federation.

Overall, the issue you’ve raised about our cooperation mechanisms becomes particularly important in situations when efforts to protect the sovereignty of the participating states have to go beyond declarations and require practical action. We are ready for such scenarios. We are interested in this format setting an example to other countries that wish to be guided by their own national interests rather than by somebody’s wishes or requests as they seek equal, mutually beneficial agreements in international cooperation.

I think we are on the right track. We will continue our cooperation across all the fields I have mentioned, and in many others. I have no doubt that in the future, new promising fields will emerge for us to apply our joint efforts.

Question (retranslated): What is Russia’s view of the geopolitical changes in West Africa?

Sergey Lavrov: Geopolitics is evolving everywhere in the world and Africa is one of the most notable examples.

In 1960, the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, with the Soviet Union among its main initiators. The process of de-colonisation was launched. Most African countries have gained political independence; although there are still territories on the continent that remain under colonial rule despite multiple UN General Assembly resolutions that demanded completing de-colonisation. This is still an unfinished process.

Another important phenomenon is taking place these days. Having gained political independence, African countries started to feel that they are still dependent on former metropoles economically and financially. Today I would call this process Africa’s second awakening, as the continent not only wants to be politically independent but it also wants to have international legal standing and to be able to manage its natural resources and prevent them from being exported to other countries where the lion’s share of added value is produced and appropriated. This added value must be created on the African continent.

Russia is ready to provide active assistance. Since the Soviet Union, we have been largely involved in establishing state-owned industrial capacities and other sectors of the economy to ensure that our African friends can build the foundation for their independent economic development.

Today, when this matter is among the key issues for the African Union and other regional organisations on the African continent, our country, our companies and respective economic and financial bodies are ready to help our African friends with progress in this direction. A great deal has been done so far and even more is to be done. The scope of work is extensive. We are ready for it.

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