What I Discussed With Putin About Niger Republic – Mali’s Military Leader, Goita

Mali’s military leader Assimi Goita has disclosed what he discussed with the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin about the the Niger Republic situation, where a junta seized power in a coup last month.

According to Goita, he and Vladimir spoke on phone on Tuesday, and the Russian leader stressed the importance of a peaceful resolution of the situation.

Putin “stressed the importance of a peaceful resolution of the situation for a more stable Sahel,” Goita said on Twitter.

Western powers fear that Niger could go the same way as neighbouring Mali, whose leaders hired mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group to help them fight an insurgency after they overthrew the democratic government three years ago and kicked out French troops.

Putin has called for a return to constitutional order in Niger, while Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin welcomed the coup.

17 Soldiers Die In Fresh Attack In Niger Republic

Meanwhile, Suspected Jihadists have, again, killed at least seventeen Nigerien soldiers in a fresh ambush near the border with Mali.

The defence ministry confirmed this in a statement released late Tuesday night, noting that a detachment of the armed forces was “the victim of a terrorist ambush near the town of Koutougou”.

The ministry statement revealed that no fewer than twenty-six soldiers suffered degrees of injuries during the ambush.

Naija News reports that the latest incident is happening two days after suspected terrorists killed at least six Nigerien soldiers in gunfire.