By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Mali’s Junta leader, Assimi Goita has said Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to him about the recent coup in Niger on Tuesday and stressed the need for peace.
This revelation is believed to cause concern among Western governments which have repeatedly expressed concern about the influence of Moscow in West Africa’s Sahel region.
Putin “stressed the importance of a peaceful resolution of the situation for a more stable Sahel,” Mali’s interim President, 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 plays strategic economic importance 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 a regional Islamist insurgency.
Western powers and democratic African governments have called for the coup leaders to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, who they have detained since July 26, but the junta has refused and rejected attempts at negotiation.
West African army chiefs will meet on Thursday and Friday in Ghana to prepare for a possible military intervention, which the main regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has threatened to launch if diplomacy fails.
Russian influence there has grown while the West’s has waned since a string of coups in the last three years.
Military leaders in Mali and Burkina Faso have kicked out troops from former colonial power France and strengthened ties with Moscow.
In Mali, the army government also brought in mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group, who have been accused of executing civilians and committing other grave human rights abuses.
