Putin, Mali’s Goita discuss Niger crisis amid Western fears of growing Russian influence in Sahel – The North Africa Post

Mali’s navy chief and interim president, Assimi Goita, had a phone dialog with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday concerning the escalating state of affairs in Niger, amid rising issues within the West that Africa’s newest coup undermines its affect whereas presenting a chance to develop Russia’s presence within the West African area.
The Kremlin mentioned Mali’s chief initiated the decision to President Putin concerning the occasions unfolding in Niger the place a coup on 26 July ousted democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum. Each leaders mentioned a lot of scorching subjects however “explicit consideration” was given to the state of affairs within the Sahara-Sahel area, in response to the assertion. The Russian president burdened the significance of using “solely peaceable political and diplomatic means” to resolve the continuing state of affairs for the sake of a extra steady Sahel, the assertion mentioned. The Kremlin additionally famous the telephone name was “in continuation of the Russian-Malian high-level talks” held on the Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg in July.
Putin’s name for a “peaceable decision” comes days after West African leaders ordered the “activation” and the “deployment” of a regional ECOWAS standby drive to revive constitutional order in Niger. Mali has continued to induce the African Union and the United Nations to forestall any navy intervention towards Niger. The ‘hotline’ between Bamako and the Kremlin is probably going a supply of nice concern for Western governments who worry the prospect of rising Russian affect within the Sahel. West African military chiefs will meet on Thursday and Friday (17-18 August) in Ghana to arrange for a doable navy intervention of ECOWAS forces in Niger, if diplomacy fails. However some specialists have warned that any navy intervention may additional destabilize the impoverished Sahel, together with Niger that has strategic significance for the West, Russia, and China attributable to its uranium and oil sources and its function as a hub for international forces combating armed teams within the area.