NIAMEY, July 9 (Reuters) – Russia and the West African countries making up the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) – Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso – have pledged to strengthen military cooperation as jihadist insurgents gain ground in the region, according to a joint statement issued on Wednesday night after talks in Niger’s capital, Niamey.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met counterparts from the three military-led countries, which all turned to Moscow for support after breaking with France and other Western allies.
• The officials welcomed “growing military and military-technical cooperation”, including assistance from Russia’s paramilitary Africa Corps.
• Russia confirmed its intention to continue helping to strengthen the armed forces of the AES member states and of their “Unified Force”, the statement said.
• In April, the regional al Qaeda affiliate and a Tuareg-led separatist group staged attacks across Mali and killed the defence minister. On Saturday they attacked numerous army posts.
• The statement alleged, without evidence, that “external state actors” including Ukraine and France were involved in attacks in the region. Both have denied such allegations.
• Lavrov also visited Ethiopia on his Africa tour. A Russia-Africa summit is planned for October.
(Reporting by Niger newsroom; Additional reporting by Ronald Popeski; Writing by Amindeh Blaise Atabong; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Kevin Liffey)