Mali, Russia security cooperation ‘satisfying’ --[Reported by Umva mag]

Mali and Russia enjoy good relations.

In an interview with the Russian media outlet Sputnik, Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop spoke about the historical roots of military cooperation between his country and the then USSR, dating back to the country’s independence in 1960.

“The USSR was one of Mali’s main partners in terms of security, training and equipment. These efforts continue to this day,” said Mali’s head of diplomacy.

In the last four years, following the overthrow of the regime of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita by Army colonels, this cooperation has taken on a new life of its own.

“We are giving a new commitment to this cooperation between Russia and Mali, where we are focusing on hosting equipment and training,” Diop added.

This strengthening is marked by the recent visit of Mali’s Minister of Defense, Colonel Sadio Camara, to Moscow, where he met with his Russian counterpart.

“It’s an ongoing dialogue. We appreciate the military equipment that Mali has purchased and the support we receive from Russia to build our capacity,” the minister said.

According to Minister Diop, the goal of the transitional authorities is to “ensure that Malians have the capacity to protect and defend their country.”

To this end, he added, “Russia is a strategic partner and a solid partner in terms of security and multilateral training.”

In addition to the delivery of military equipment, Russian trainers, described by some Western chancelleries as mercenaries from the private military company Wagner, have been present in Mali since 2022.

Their arrival helped speed up the withdrawal of French forces from Operation Barkhane, marking a significant turning point in Mali’s relations with its former colonial power and other Western partners.

This cooperation is crucial for Mali’s security and defense forces.

“Today, it allows the Malian security and defense forces to continue their work in the fight against terrorists, but also to protect and defend the territorial integrity of our country,” concluded the minister.

AC/sf/lb/as/APA

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