Geopolitical realignment in the western Sahel: Causes and characteristics (2002–2025)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51349/veg.2026.1.07Keywords:
Sahel region, Coup d'état, Françafrique, West, RussiaAbstract
The coup d'état on August 18, 2020, in Mali marked the beginning of the country's rapprochement with Russia, which materialized in late 2021 with the arrival of members of the Wagner Private Military Company, who progressively replaced French and Western troops as the main allies in the fight against jihadist groups. This shift indicated a growing popular rejection of Western interventions, which, although initially well-received, lost legitimacy over time. This process of geopolitical realignment was not limited to Mali but also extended to Burkina Faso and Niger, which, after experiencing coups, turned towards Russia, highlighting a broader change in the dynamics of the Sahel. This work analyzes the stages, factors, and key actors in this geopolitical transformation in the region.
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