Russia finally authorizes a nuclear deal with two of its most notable West-African friends

The move, which was sanctioned by the Russian government, entrusts Russia’s state atomic energy firm, Rosatom, with overseeing the agreements on Moscow’s behalf.

According to the proposed agreements, Russia would assist both Mali and Burkina Faso in the building of nuclear power facilities and research reactors.

As per a report by Sputnik, Rosatom will supply crucial services connected to the nuclear fuel cycle, firmly putting Russia at the foundation of the two countries’ efforts to utilize nuclear energy for civilian purposes.

The initiative builds on Russia’s expanding position in Burkina Faso’s energy industry.

In October 2024, Rosatom and Burkina Faso signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a nuclear power facility in the West African country.

Talks ramped up in March 2025, when both sides stated they were working on a proposal to build the facility, which is anticipated to ease energy constraints and spur industrial growth.

In April 2025, Burkina Faso’s military-led administration issued an industrial mining license to Nordgold, a Russian gold mining corporation, to commence operations on a new gold mine.

The move came at a time when gold prices were skyrocketing and governments were looking for new revenue streams to help their faltering economies.

The growing collaboration coincides with a momentous political transition in West Africa. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, collectively known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), announced their formal exit from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on January 29, 2025.

The group levied sanctions and criticized the military coups that installed the present administrations, causing the three to distance themselves from Western institutions.

These technologies seek to improve border security and enable encrypted communications across AES nations, thereby strengthening Russian influence in the region’s security architecture.