(Ecofin Agency) - About a hundred Russian soldiers have arrived in Ouagadougou, marking the initial phase of a 300-member force. Their mission includes ensuring the security of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, patrolling high-risk areas, and providing training to Burkinabe soldiers.

The deployment of Russian troops in Burkina Faso has commenced, with the arrival of the first contingent of a hundred soldiers in the country. This was announced by Africa Corps, the newly established Russian military unit that has taken over operations from the paramilitary group Wagner, in a statement released on its Telegram channel.

Operating directly under the command of the Ministry of Defense, Africa Corps symbolizes Russia's fresh approach to its military presence in Africa. It aims to distinguish itself from the "Wagner" brand, whose founder, Evgeniy Prigozhin, died in August 2023 during an abortive rebellion against the Kremlin. The hundred Russian soldiers arriving in Ouagadougou constitute the initial phase of a 300-strong force, explicitly tasked with "ensuring the security of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the Burkinabe transitional president and leader of the September 30, 2022 coup, and the Burkinabe people," as highlighted by Africa Corps.

These "military experts" will also "provide training to Burkinabe troops and conduct patrols in high-risk zones," as reported by The Africa Initiative, a media outlet close to the Kremlin, on its Telegram account.

The Africa Initiative has also shared photos depicting Russian troops and military aircraft upon their arrival in Ouagadougou.

This move signifies Russia's bolstered military presence and influence in the Sahel region, where Russian troops are already stationed in Mali.

In September, a Russian delegation led by Deputy Defense Minister Younous-Bek Yevkourov was personally received by Captain Ibrahim Traoré. About a month later, the Burkinabe government announced the signing of several cooperation agreements with Russia in various sectors, including security and defense, humanitarian efforts, energy, and nuclear initiatives. Subsequently, Burkinabe Defense Minister Colonel Kassoum Coulibaly visited Moscow in November to meet his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu.