Russia will soon sign a memorandum of cooperation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including in the field of security, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Aug. 17.

Lavrov made the announcement after talks in Moscow with Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. He said there was interest on both sides in strengthening cooperation with the West African bloc.

The announcement comes as West Africa faces persistent security challenges, particularly the expansion of jihadist groups from the Sahel toward coastal countries.

Moscow has significantly expanded its security ties with several African countries in recent years. Russia maintains close relations with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which withdrew from ECOWAS in January 2025 and now operate within the Alliance of Sahel States.

Lavrov said Russia also supports efforts to improve relations between ECOWAS and the three Sahel countries. He indicated that Moscow was prepared to help facilitate dialogue between the two sides.

Ghana, an ECOWAS member, has also expressed interest in working with Russia on regional security. Following his talks with Lavrov, Ablakwa said Ghana and Russia had agreed to cooperate on peace and security and to help address the deteriorating situation in the Sahel.

The planned agreement should not be described as a Russian-ECOWAS military alliance. Lavrov referred specifically to a memorandum of cooperation, with security among the areas covered.

No timetable for signing the memorandum or detailed commitments under the agreement have been publicly announced.

The move nevertheless signals Moscow’s growing diplomatic and security engagement in West Africa, at a time when the region is reassessing its traditional security partnerships.

For ECOWAS, the potential cooperation comes as the bloc seeks to strengthen its own regional security mechanisms while managing the political and security consequences of the departure of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

The proposed memorandum could therefore become another channel for Russia to deepen its relationship with West African governments and expand its role in regional security affairs.