Owusu on Africa: How global polarity is “spreading” from the Sahel to coastal West Africa

By Fidel Amakye Owusu

During the Cold War, the West held significant influence in West Africa, particularly through France, which had considerable control over many countries in the region. The exception was the Republic of Guinea, which maintained a more independent stance.

In Anglophone West Africa, countries generally followed independent foreign policies but leaned towards the West. Ghana, under Kwame Nkrumah, famously stated that it was “not looking right or left” but was “looking forward.” Nigeria, the region’s largest country, predominantly aligned with the West.

Liberia became a hub for Western intelligence activities, while Sierra Leone and The Gambia experienced minimal shifts in the ideological tug-of-war.

This Western dominance coexisted with the predominantly socialist policies of various governments in the region. Guinea-Bissau stood out as the only country whose independence movement was led by a well-known Marxist, Amilcar Cabral.

In recent years, West Africa’s Sahel region has witnessed a resurgence of great power rivalry, spurred by political instability resulting from extremist threats. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, all landlocked countries, have seen significant Russian influence despite logistical and operational challenges in breaking away from regional organizations and protocols.

This dynamic is rapidly evolving. Coastal states in the region are shifting their foreign policy approaches, bolstering the confidence of pro-Russian regimes. Togo and Senegal have emerged as key players in this shift. Niger, for instance, redirected most of its imports through Togo rather than Benin after the regional economic community – the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) – imposed sanctions.

Togo, a member of ECOWAS, adopted a softer stance and hosted the Lomé Peace and Security Forum, giving a platform to junta governments. In contrast, Benin blocked Niger’s oil exports through its ports in retaliation.

Senegal’s new government, led by officials who have vocally opposed French influence, is likely to pursue an independent foreign policy, potentially aligning with junta-led landlocked states. Although Russia has made recent inroads in Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé, it is the policies of Togo and Senegal that could significantly enhance Moscow’s influence in the region. Unlike Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé, Togo and Senegal have strategic geographical and political positions that are crucial to the Sahel.

Fidel Amakye Owusu is an International Relations and Security Analyst. He is an Associate at the Conflict Research Consortium for Africa and has previously hosted an International Affairs program with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). He is passionate about Diplomacy and realizing Africa’s global potential and how the continent should be viewed as part of the global collective.