Lavrov in Mali: is Russia’s African charm offensive working?

Russia’s growing influence on the continent has been met with broad concern in the West

Lavrov in Mali
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop
(Image credit: YURI KADOBNOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

During his visit to Mali this week, Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov pledged continued military support for the West African nation, as Moscow seeks to expand its influence on a continent that has become the epicentre of a diplomatic tussle between world powers.

Lavrov’s two-day trip to Mali comes as the Kremlin aims to “shore up allies as the Ukraine war continues”, the BBC said, though its involvement in West Africa “pre-dates that and has been growing over time”.

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Arion McNicoll is a freelance writer at The Week Digital and was previously the UK website’s editor. He has also held senior editorial roles at CNN, The Times and The Sunday Times. Along with his writing work, he co-hosts “Today in History with The Retrospectors”, Rethink Audio’s flagship daily podcast, and is a regular panellist (and occasional stand-in host) on “The Week Unwrapped”. He is also a judge for The Publisher Podcast Awards.