ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Mali’s military leader, Assimi Goita, says he spoke on the phone to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the situation in Niger Republic.
According to Reuters, Goita in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter on Tuesday said Putin during the call stressed the importance of a peaceful resolution of the situation for a more stable region.
Goita said, “Putin ‘stressed the importance of a peaceful resolution of the situation for a more stable Sahel.'”
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Western powers fear that the Republic of Niger could go the same way as neighbouring Mali, whose leaders hired mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group to help them fight an insurgency after they overthrew the democratic government three years ago and kicked out French troops.
Putin has called for a return to constitutional order in Niger, where a junta seized power in a coup last month, while Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin welcomed the coup.
Since the 26 July coup, support for Russia has appeared to surge in Niger Republic, with junta supporters waving Russian flags at several rallies.