Russia’s presence in Mali will continue based on requests from the country’s current authorities, Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said on Thursday.
“Russia will keep up the fight against extremism, terrorism, and other negative manifestations, including in Mali,” Peskov said, adding that it would continue to assist the current government.
He made the remarks in response to statements by a representative of the Azawad Liberation Front, a Tuareg separatist group, who said the rebels aimed to force Russia to withdraw from Mali.
“Russia’s presence there is, in fact, due to the need identified by the current government. Russia will continue, including in Mali, to combat extremism, terrorism and other harmful phenomena.
“It will continue to provide assistance to the current government,” said Peskov.
Mali’s Russia-trained defence minister, Sadio Camara, was killed in a suicide bombing at the weekend, Russia’s Africa Corps was forced to withdraw from Kidal, an important town that Russian mercenaries helped take in 2023.
Moscow had to use helicopter gunships and strategic bombers to hold insurgents back.
Political analysts say Russia’s image as a self-styled security guarantor in Africa has been dented by the events and that its strategic and economic interests on the continent are now threatened by the turmoil. NAN
