World Politics Review published on 30 April 2024 a commentary titled "Geopolitical Competition Is Reshaping West Africa" by Afolabi Adekaiyaoja, Nigerian researcher.
As France and the United States lose influence and pull troops from Africa's Sahel region, several of these countries are pivoting increasingly to Russia and its Africa Corps for security assistance.
Comment: The biggest security threat in the region remains that from ISIS and al-Qaeda-affiliated groups. So far, Russia's security commitments to the region are too small to have any significant impact on countering jihadi organizations. While Russia is gaining influence in the Sahel, it may soon find that it is not able to stem jihadi activity, leaving these governments in a more difficult position than previously.
