Estudios africanos. Enfoques multidisciplinares desde las humanidades y las ciencias sociales

Abstract

The coup d'& eacute;tat of August 18, 2020 in Mali marked the beginning of a gradual rapprochement between the country and Russia, culminating in late 2023 with the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)-a mutual defense pact formed in response to the coup in Niger that same year, amid threats of military intervention by ECOWAS to restore constitutional order. This shift reflected growing popular discontent with Western interventions, which, although initially welcomed, gradually lost legitimacy. The geostrategic realignment process extended beyond Mali, encompassing Burkina Faso and Niger, both of which, following their own coups, moved closer to Russia-signaling a broader transformation in the Sahel's geopolitical dynamics. This paper analyzes the stages, driving factors, and key actors behind this regional shift.