Russian Foreign Minister Arrives In Mali

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has arrived in Mali for talks with the military leadership of the country.

Mr. Lavrov, who was in Iraq on Monday, was welcomed on arrival by his counterpart Abdoulaye Diop and did not make any statement to journalists.

Report says the Russian minister is expected to hold talks with the country’s interim president, Assimi Goïta, and the foreign affairs minister.

Meanwhile, the Russian news agency Tass said the two sides would discuss issues of cooperation including military ties and the shipment of Russian grain, fertiliser, and oil products to Mali.

The talks will also touch on issues about the war in Ukraine and on tackling terrorism in the Sahel region.

This is Mr. Lavrov’s second trip to Africa in two weeks after touring South Africa, Angola, Eswatini, and Eritrea in January.

Russia’s influence in Mali has steadily increased since the deployment of Wagner Group mercenaries in December 2021.

BBC/Christopher Ojilere