(Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by telephone on Sunday with Mali’s transitional president, Assimi Goïta, to discuss in particular the fight against terrorism and the crisis in Niger, the Kremlin said.
The two leaders agreed that the crisis in Niger, a country neighboring Mali where soldiers overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum in July, could only be resolved through diplomatic channels.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened the Nigerien putschists with military intervention to restore Mohamed Bazoum.
Mali, itself led by the military following two coups in 2020 and 2021, has on the other hand warned against any external intervention in Niger. Since the military took power, Mali has moved significantly closer to Russia and has authorized the installation on its soil of the Wagner paramilitary force.
(Written by Felix Light, French version Bertrand Boucey)
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