Russia, Algeria bolster Sahel juntas; 2,500 Moscow-led troops deployed

El País reports that approximately 2,500 Russian mercenaries and soldiers operate in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, with Algeria now providing support to the military juntas. This marks a deepening of anti-Western alignment in the Sahel, shifting regional power dynamics. The extent of Algeria's involvement and its strategic motivations remain partially unclear.