The Alliance of Sahel States: Initial Difficulties as a Resource for Development

... nations’ intentions. Traditional concepts of politico-military and economic alliances do not fit the current situation in the Sahel and cannot be therefore realized. From this perspective, the Alliance of Sahel States can well become a “laboratory” of minilateralism, generating a unique experience when various formats of cooperation are negotiated on military and related topics. The balance between the revolutionary romanticism embraced by the leaders of Burkina Faso and Mali and the pragmatism preached by the leaders of Niger will play an important role in this regard. It is quite possible that the experience of the Sahelian troika will be useful for Russia in building relations in Eurasia and in the ...