Russia accuses France of being responsible for terrorism in West Africa

Ghana, a West African country, has expressed its support for Russian assistance in the fight against terrorism in West Africa, as concerns related to terrorism and suspicions of foreign influence continue to weigh on regional relations.

The issue was raised at a press conference in Moscow, led by Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, during which the security crisis affecting Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger was discussed alongside the broader geopolitical realignment in the Sahel.

The AES security problem

The three nations, which created the ESA following a series of military coups after leaving ECOWAS, have gradually distanced themselves from France and other Western partners while developing their security relations with Russia.

However, the region remains threatened by jihadist organizations such as Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), linked to Al-Qaeda, and groups affiliated with the Islamic State.

As a result, Russia and the governments of the ESA are increasingly accusing Western-backed forces of attempting to destabilize nations that have abandoned their historical colonial ties.

Russia's mistrust of France and Ukraine has been highlighted.

During the press briefing in Moscow, Lavrov expressed his suspicions more clearly, claiming that France was helping armed groups fighting governments in the Sahel.

According to him, France's involvement in terrorist attacks in West Africa stems from its refusal to relinquish its influence in the region.

"The official request from the legitimate governments of African countries... is aimed primarily at repelling terrorist attacks planned by certain countries that cannot bear the loss of their colonial influence in Africa," Lavrov said.

"It is no secret that France acts in this way; it engages directly with illegitimate armed groups, arms them, finances them and trains them, encouraging them to create obstacles for the countries of the Saharan and Sahelian regions, the countries that have definitively decided to break ties with the former colonizing countries," he added.

The Russian minister also accused Ukraine of contributing to the insecurity plaguing the Sahel, accusing it of being directly involved.

"We're not talking about mercenaries; we're talking about Ukrainian soldiers."

“In the spring, we witnessed a terrible attack against Mali with the support of Ukrainian soldiers; the African Corps helped to repel this attack.”

Russia's security partnership with ESA has strengthened considerably since the three nations broke away from France and other Western partners.

Moscow has promised military assistance and cooperation in the face of the rise of terrorist groups in certain regions of the Sahel.

For Ghana, however, Russia's growing presence is not interpreted as an attempt to interfere in West African politics; rather, it is seen as a necessary and welcome partnership.

Response from the Ghanaian minister

Asked whether Accra views Moscow as a potential ally in resuming talks between ECOWAS and ESA, Ablakwa said that Ghana does not view Russia as an undesirable foreigner.

"We do not consider Russia's role to be that of an intrusive and unsolicited actor. It was invited and it is helping us to stabilize the situation," he stressed.

Ablakwa stressed that Ghana's preferred strategy remains an African-led strategy, with the help of foreign partners.

"Our position is that this must be an Africa-led solution, with the support of our international partners, and that is how we envision this approach."

The Ghanaian minister revealed that Ghana and its allies have developed a new framework for the resumption of cooperation between ECOWAS and ESA.

"We have currently drafted an agreement which we have shared with the Russian side, and we want to work with them within this new framework that we have put in place, which benefits from the collective support of ECOWAS and the ESA," he said.

"We have agreed to work together with Russia to help our brothers and sisters in the Sahel, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali... even though these countries have left ECOWAS," he added.

These remarks demonstrate Ghana's desire to position itself as a bridge between the established West African regional bloc and the breakaway Sahelian alliance, while drawing Russia into an African-led effort to resolve the deteriorating security situation in the region.