Russia supports the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States, considering this move as an “African solution to African problems,” the Director of the Department for Partnership with Africa of the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
Russia said the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States is “an important step in consolidating the efforts of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to ensure national security and solve socio-economic problems,” Tatiana Dovgalenko said in an exclusive interview with RIA Novosti.
“Based on the fundamental principle of “an African solution to African problems,” we believe that this initiative fully meets the interests of the peoples of these states and will have a positive impact on the creation of a new regional security architecture,” the Russian diplomat stressed.
According to Ms. Dovgalenko, “the most important goal of the alliance is to counter the terrorist threat in the Sahara and Sahel region.”
She pointed out Western responsibility for the deterioration of security in the region, recalling that “the situation in the region is indeed difficult, not without the help of the West, which was directly
involved in the destruction of the Libyan state in 2011.”
“Today, the fighters who were used in the fight against Muammar Gaddafi constitute the core of the jihadist formations affiliated with Al-Qaeda and Daesh in the Sahel,” she specified.
The senior official of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the progress already made by “the Sahel Troika,” which “is gradually regaining control of the national territory.” She notably
highlighted that “the formation of the united armed forces of the Alliance of Sahel States, numbering around 5,000 people, is almost complete.”
Ms. Dovgalenko also detailed the support provided by Moscow to these African countries.
“Russia provides assistance in strengthening counter-terrorism capabilities and improving the operational efficiency of national armed forces through the dispatch of specialists and military
equipment and the training of military personnel and law enforcement agencies, as well as in the socio-economic development of the countries of the region,” she listed.
This Russian position comes as the three Sahelian countries, which have all experienced military coups in recent years, have severed military ties with France and other Western partners to move closer to Russia.
AC/Sf/fss/as/APA