Mali’s Military Leader Discloses Phone Conversation With Putin Over Niger Crisis

Afimag.com

Mali’s military leader Assimi Goita has let out his phone discussion with the Russian President Vladimir Putin about the circumstances surrounding Niger Republic in Africa.

Goita explained that the Russian President emphasized the need for Niger junta to embrace dialogue to avert further crisis in Africa.

Goita, who disclosed this on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on August 15, 2023, added that Putin requested for total restoration of constitutional order.

ECOWAS leaders had felt that Niger would toll the same way with 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, while Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin welcomed the coup.

Support for Russia has appeared to surge in Niger since the July 26 coup, with junta supporters waving Russian flags at several rallies.