Assimi Goita, Mali’s military commander, announced on Tuesday that he recently spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the present situation in Niger.
The world community is concerned when Niger was overthrown by a junta.
Goita added in a message uploaded on the social media site X (previously Twitter) that Putin highlighted the importance of a peaceful conclusion to maintain Sahel area stability.
Western nations are apprehensive that Niger might follow the path of Mali, where a previous coup led to the involvement of Russian Wagner group mercenaries in counter-insurgency efforts.
Putin has urged the restoration of constitutional order in Niger. On the other hand, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner group, expressed support for the coup. Interestingly, there has been a notable surge in pro-Russian sentiment in Niger since the coup, evident in rallies where junta supporters waved Russian flags.
