Russia & Human Rights Watch

Russia: Mali's junta has aligned with Russia for military assistance, replacing former Western allies, which has implications for the conflict dynamics.

Human Rights Watch: Human Rights Watch reported grave abuses against civilians by both jihadists and the Malian army with its Russian allies, highlighting the humanitarian impact of the conflict.

Russia: Burkina Faso has strengthened ties with Russia as it pivots away from Western powers.

Human Rights Watch: A Human Rights Watch report highlighted that government forces in Burkina Faso were responsible for a significant number of civilian killings, providing context to the country's internal security situation.