Russia’s President Vladimir Putin reportedly spoke on the phone on Tuesday with Mali’s military leader, Assimi Goita, to discuss the crisis in the Republic of Niger.
Goita confirmed his conversation with Putin in a post on his official Twitter page, Naija News reports.
According to him, the Russian President, during their phone conversation, stressed the importance of a peaceful resolution over the Niger Republic coup, where the military ousted the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup last month.
Goita said he spoke to Putin to update him about the situation in Niger. He stressed that the Russian leader is interested in a peaceful resolution of the situation for a more stable Sahel.
It was feared the military might seek to switch allegiance to Russia and close French and US bases there.
Putin has called for a return to constitutional order in Niger, while Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin welcomed the coup.