Russian Defence Minister holds talks with heads of defence departments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger

Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov held a meeting with the heads of defence departments of the Confederation of Sahel States member countries (Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali, the Republic of the Niger).

‘Today, we are holding the first consultations between the heads of the defence departments of the Russian Federation and the member countries of the Confederation of Sahel States,’ said Andrei Belousov.

▫️ The Russian Defence Minister noted that in July it was one year since the establishment of the Confederation of Sahel States.

‘The decision to establish the alliance is the result of the free choice of the Sahelian peoples and the course towards sustainable peaceful development. However, today terrorist threats and intensive actions of illegal armed groups persist in the Confederation countries,’ he stressed.

▫️ The Russian Defence Minister noted that the Russian military department is ready to provide comprehensive assistance to ensure stability in the region. ‘We support your position on the need to strengthen security, protect territories and sovereignty’.

▫️Andrei Belousov underlined that the quadrilateral dialogue would be an important format for discussing issues on strengthening the cooperation in the defence sphere.

▫️ In turn, the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs of the Republic of Mali General Sadio Camara noted that the initiative to organise the first meeting at the level of defence ministers is a common desire to strengthen strategic partnership between countries. The General underlined this idea during his welcome speech on behalf of the heads of defence departments of the Confederation of Sahel States member countries.

‘At present, cooperation in the defence field is the largest area of cooperation between our countries,’ General Sadio Camara stressed.

📑 Following the results of the talks, the sides signed a joint statement on the results of the consultations, as well as a memorandum of understanding between the defence departments of the Russian Federation and the Confederation of Sahel States.