The West, in both its American and European forms, has not completely withdrawn from the African continent, but has restructured its security presence to become more pervasive and less visible.

The joint initiative was announced during a high-level meeting hosted by the Nigerien capital, Niamey, on November 7, which brought together the defense ministers of the Sahel Alliance countries.

On September 22, 2025, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, calling the institution a tool of colonial oppression in the hands of imperial powers.

Senegal’s new authorities continue their efforts to break with the legacy of former president Macky Sall, particularly the pervasive corruption that has left deep political, economic, and social scars.

The Sahel states and Russia are deepening their strategic partnership, with a particular focus on military cooperation, built on shared interests to confront mounting security challenges and to shape an alliance independent of former colonial powers.