Mali’s military leader Assimi Goita has spoken on the phone to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation in Niger, where a July 26 coup ousted democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
Putin “stressed the importance of a peaceful resolution of the situation for a more stable Sahel,” Goita said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Kremlin said in a statement that the call was initiated by Mali.
“The parties specifically focused on the current situation in the Sahara-Sahel region and emphasised, in particular, the importance of settling the situation in the Republic of Niger solely through peaceful political and diplomatic means,” it said.
Niger has strategic significance for the United States, China, Europe, and Russia due to its uranium and oil resources and its role as a hub for foreign forces fighting armed groups in the region.
The call is likely to rattle Western governments that fear growing Russian influence in the Sahel.
Western powers and democratic African governments have called for the coup leaders to reinstate ousted President Bazoum, who they have detained since July 26, but the coup leaders have refused and rejected attempts at negotiation.
Credit: aljazeera.com
