Mali’s military commander, Assimi Goita, announced on Tuesday that he had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing situation in Niger. Last month, a junta took control through a coup.
Goita shared on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that Putin emphasized the importance of achieving a peaceful resolution to enhance stability in the Sahel region.
Western nations are concerned that Niger could follow a similar path to its neighbor, Mali, where leaders engaged the services of mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group to combat an insurgency after overthrowing the democratically elected government three years ago and expelling French forces.
Putin has called for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger, whereas Wagner’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, expressed support for the coup.
In the aftermath of the July 26 coup, there seems to be a growing pro-Russia sentiment in Niger, evident through junta supporters displaying Russian flags during various rallies.
