From Traditional Partnership to Strategic Realignment: Determinants of Burkinabe–Russian Rapprochement and Transformations of French Influence during the Transitional Governance Period 2020-2026
This study examines the geopolitical realignment of Burkina Faso within the broader context of the Sahel region’s evolving security and international order. It explores the transition from traditional Western security partnerships—particularly with France—to emerging alignments with non-Western actors, notably Russia, following the 2022 military takeover led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré. The research situates this shift within the structural legacy of colonialism, persistent state fragility, and the intensification of armed insurgencies in the Sahel. Drawing on critical approaches in International Relations and geopolitical analysis, the study argues that Burkina Faso’s foreign policy transformation cannot be understood solely as a reaction to counterterrorism failures, but rather as part of a broader reconfiguration of global power relations in Africa. It highlights how declining trust in Western intervention models, combined with rising anti-French sentiment, has facilitated the reorientation of alliances and the emergence of alternative security providers, particularly Russia, as well as private security actors. The study further examines the interplay between security and resource geopolitics, demonstrating how competition over strategic minerals such as gold and uranium has become central to external involvement in the region. It also assesses the implications of military governance, institutional fragility, and ongoing insurgent violence for state sovereignty and regional stability. Ultimately, the paper concludes that Burkina Faso represents a paradigmatic case of multipolar competition in the Sahel, where shifting alliances, resource interests, and security imperatives intersect to reshape both domestic governance structures and international power configurations.