Sahel – The Sino-Russian quest to unseat France

Rising anti-French sentiment has been evident across the Sahel for several years, leading to increased protests targeting French interests in the region. As France’s commercial and security presence in the Sahel recedes, Russia and China have positioned themselves as attractive alternative partners. Russia has focused on short-term gains through the deployment of security forces to countries facing high levels of insecurity, while China has focused on commercial diplomacy.

This AKE Special Report analyses the Sino-Russian quest to unseat France in the region and discusses the potential for Russia and China to become the dominant players in the Sahel.