The leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger held talks in Moscow on Thursday on strengthening their cooperation with Russia on the sidelines of the third Russia-Africa summit, Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister’s Office said on Friday.
Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo and a Nigerien delegation were received on 29 October by Mali’s transitional president, General Assimi Goïta, at his residence in the Russian capital.
The delegations conveyed greetings to the Malian leader from Burkina Faso’s President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, and Niger’s President, General Abdourahamane Tiani.
The discussions focused in particular on an initial assessment of their participation in the Russia-Africa summit.
The officials also examined prospects for cooperation with Moscow at both bilateral and confederal levels.
“We benefited from his guidance and advice,” Ouédraogo said after the meeting, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which form the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), are seeking to strengthen their strategic partnership with Russia.
The third Russia-Africa summit has been taking place in Moscow amid growing diplomatic and economic ties between Moscow and several African countries.
Ho/Sf/lb/as/APA