Leading From Behind: Russia’s Role in Burkina Faso

Speaking on the sidelines of Russia's 'Army-2024' international military and technical forum which ran from August 12-14, Burkina Faso's Defense Minister Kassoum Coulibaly explained to Russian state-owned media site TASS, that "no one can provide security better than we ourselves.".Noting that while Russian security support is vital in "some areas," Burkina Faso "will suffer if Russian soldiers come to die for us when we have the hands, brains and the inclination to do so," Coulibaly claimed..The conversation comes as 'Jedi,' a key figure in the Russian state-linked BEAR mercenary group that recently set up a headquarters in Ouagadougou and provides protection to Ibrahim Traore's military junta, announced his 'company's' pending departure from the nation on August 15th..Vitalij Nikolaevich Ermolaev, callsign 'Jedi', announced just one day after the Army-2024 forum ended that "as the mercenary code says, if you have a choice between Motherland or money, always choose the first, because you only have one…Bears! all squadrons return to base…we are returning..this is the way.".From these developments, it appears that while Burkina Faso and Russia intend to continue to cooperate in the security sphere, Burkina Faso seeks a larger hold of the reins. This renewed sense of autonomy comes even as Burkina Faso has witnessed mass losses amongst its armed forces at the hands of the al-Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen (JNIM) in recent weeks..Moreover, members of the BEAR mercenary group may be being called back to Russia to bolster forces in its western Kursk oblast, which lies close to the border with Ukraine, and where Ukrainian forces began an attack on August 6th–representing the most significant cross-border attack since the Russian war in Ukraine began in February 2022..What You Need to Know.In early June, Sergei Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister, announced his nation's intent to send additional military equipment and instructors to Burkina Faso in order to 'destroy the remaining pockets of terrorism on the territory.'.Nevertheless, between July 1st and August 1st, Burkina Faso was the victim of 100 attacks at the hands of JNIM and ten at the hands of ISIS. Furthermore, on August 8th, at least 140 Burkinabe armed forces personnel were killed when JNIM members attacked their convoy in the east of the country..JNIM later claimed the attack came as a response to "the heinous crimes" committed by the Burkinabe junta against Muslims and civilians across the country as well as in Mali and Niger–where the Burkinabe air force supported the Malian armed forces as they conducted airstrikes on civilian infrastructure near Tinzaouten in late July..Since coming to power through a military coup in January 2022, 36-year-old Captain Ibrahim Traore–who criticized the nation's former government for its failure to contain the terrorist threat in the country–has struggled to do the same even as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) containing Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso announced the creation of a joint counterterrorism force in March..As a result, mass casualties are common amongst the Burkinabe armed forces, as evidenced by the killing of 112 Burkinabe soldiers by JNIM on June 11th in Mansila. This mass casualty event allegedly led to a 'tense situation' between the government and the army in the following days..In the attack's aftermath, a series of flights were chartered between Mali–which also has a Russian mercenary presence–and Ouagadougou, with the flight carrier, Abukan Air, sanctioned on June 14th by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for "conducting arms deliveries on behalf of Russia's defense industrial base.".Two days before the US sanctioned Abukan Air, the first images of the BEAR PMC's headquarters began making the rounds on social media. Notably, the building is just meters from the President's Ministry of State office..Since then, the Burkinabe armed forces have continued to face attacks from the likes of ISIS and JNIM, with the BEAR mercenary personnel appearing to partake mainly in Presidential protection..According to Defense Minister Coulibaly, "We prefer to learn the hard way and face our realities and what lies ahead. So we understand each other well on this principle with our Russian friends," illustrating the recognition of both nations that Burkina Faso is to take the reins in the security spheres, albeit with Russian support..This decision to lead the nation's security initiatives comes as the Security Ministry, on August 8th, requested the civilian populace to report on any suspicious individuals or movements. In addition, and according to Reuters, is the junta's conscription of magistrates who have taken action against pro-junta individuals. Coupled with the near media blackout in the nation, it appears that Traore's junta has fashioned a firm grip on Burkinabe politics..So, What Now?.While it cannot be independently verified if BEAR PMC personnel are to be redeployed to Kursk, it does appear interesting, at the least, that BEAR personnel are returning to Russia just as Ukraine begins an incursion into Russian territory. Additionally, BEAR personnel only entered Burkina Faso around two months ago, making it unlikely that the BEAR's departure represents a routine a troop rotation.