Russia has accused Western powers of fueling instability in the Sahel region through their military intervention in Libya, claiming the fallout has created fertile ground for armed groups and undermined regional efforts toward peace.
Speaking at a UN Security Council session on the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Chumakov reaffirmed Moscow’s full support for the office’s work and stressed the importance of regional cooperation in confronting shared threats, particularly terrorism.
Chumakov noted that West Africa has seen relative political calm this year, with signs of renewed partnership between the Sahel Alliance (AES) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He argued that rebuilding trust among regional actors is key to mounting a collective response to terrorist threats.
However, he warned that militant activity in the Sahel and Sahara remains alarming, citing the destabilizing impact of Western military involvement in Libya. According to Chumakov, this intervention turned the region into a haven for transnational armed groups.
He went further, accusing certain countries of backing these groups, singling out Ukraine for allegedly supporting militants in Mali, a claim that has led Sahel Alliance members to sever ties with Kyiv.
Chumakov also cautioned that the threat is expanding southward, affecting Gulf of Guinea nations, including Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo. He highlighted ongoing attacks by Boko Haram and ISIS in northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad basin, as well as the humanitarian and security pressures facing Chad due to refugee flows from Sudan.
Calling for unified international support, Chumakov urged the global community to assist Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, countries he described as being on the front lines of the fight against cross-border terrorism.
He criticized foreign interference in the region’s internal affairs, asserting that “only Africans can determine what suits them in confronting terrorism and achieving political and economic development.”
On the economic front, Chumakov pointed to debt burdens as a major obstacle preventing Sahel states from addressing the root causes of extremism. He called for reforms to international financial institutions that would better reflect the priorities of developing nations.
He concluded by affirming Russia’s continued commitment to stabilizing the Sahel and West Africa, pledging military and security support, including training for local forces, and vowing to stand by the region in its struggle against terrorism.
