Russia and Mali confirm their willingness to deepen their military cooperation

Russian and Malian Foreign Ministers Sergei Lavrov and Abdoulaye Diop on November 11, 2021 in Moscow.

© Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Moscow and Bamako are determined to continue their military cooperation.

This is what emerges from the meeting, Thursday, November 12 in Moscow, between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Malian counterpart, Abdoulaye Diop.

However, the latter denied the existence of a contract with the Wagner group. 

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With our correspondent in Moscow,

Sergey Lavrov and Abdoulaye Diop invoked the fight against the increased terrorist risk caused by the partial withdrawal of French troops in northern Mali to justify the intensification of their military cooperation.

Abdoulaye Diop did not fail to recall that Moscow has supported Mali since its independence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs recalling that 80% of Mali's military equipment came from Russia.

For his part, Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow would

, armaments and ammunition while training Malian officers.

For the Russian minister, the objective is to allow Bamako to fight effectively against the terrorist threat.

Disclaimer regarding the Wagner group

The two men, on the other hand, denied, each in his own way, the possible involvement of Russian mercenaries.

Abdoulaye Diop said that no contract had been signed in this area.

As for Sergei Lavrov, he clarified that Moscow does not intervene in the activities of structures created by Russian citizens and which conclude their contracts themselves.

►Also read: French press review - How Vladimir Poutine pushes his mercenaries in Africa

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