Russia is seeing a good “return on its investment” in the Sahel. Both Mali and Niger have cut their ties with Ukraine after Kiev’s intelligence agency GUR said it was involved in the clash at the end of July that claimed the lives of dozens of Russian mercenaries and Malian soldiers in northern Mali. It is expected that Burkina Faso will also take a similar decision in the days to come, as this country is part of the coalition of the three Sahelian nations that seek to coordinate defense policy and diplomacy.