Russia and China deepen influence across Africa's Sahel region

Russia and China are expanding their political and economic foothold in the Sahel, where countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and the Central African Republic have increasingly rejected French military bases and EU agreements. Russian soft‑power efforts include investment in local radio stations, French‑language media outlets and social‑media campaigns that promote anti‑Western narratives, while Chinese digital infrastructure projects have supplied a large share of smartphones and telecom equipment across the continent.

During a recent visit to Africa, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted the growing partnership between Moscow and Sahel states and the broader “new world” alignment that also involves Turkey and Iran. Trade between Turkey and Africa has risen from $5.4 billion in 2003 to over $37 billion in 2024, and Turkish diplomatic presence on the continent has more than tripled. China remains Africa’s largest trading partner, with China‑Africa trade reaching $134 billion in early 2025, while France’s trade with the region has fallen to about €24 billion.

The shift reflects a wider realignment as Western powers lose influence, and Russia and China continue to supply arms, drones and other defense equipment to Sahel governments.