Lavrov promises Russian aid to Sahel and Gulf of Guinea countries against jihadism

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday (February 7th) promised Moscow's aid to the countries of the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea in the face of jihadists.

“

,” Sergei Lavrov said during a visit to Mali.

“

,” he said.

“Historic” visit

Sergei Lavrov was speaking at a joint press conference with his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop during a visit billed by both sides as a '

' first for a Russian foreign minister to the country sahelian.

Sergei Lavrov's visit to this country plagued by jihadist violence and a deep multidimensional crisis concretizes the rapprochement operated by the Malian colonels since 2021, at the same time as they broke the military alliance with France and its partners.

Russian commitment against the “neocolonial approaches” of the West

Sergei Lavrov has promised Mali continued military support in the form of arms deliveries and the dispatch of hundreds of men, described according to sources as Russian army instructors or mercenaries from Wagner, a group of private security to the decried actions.

He also promised increased Russian engagement on the continent, which he said was confronted with the "

" of the West.

"

," he said.