Ties between Mali and Russia are set to be strengthened following a visit to Moscow by the Malian foreign minister, Abdoulaye Diop.
Diop said that Russia had been a key ally of Mali since it had become independent and with the security threat deteriorating Russia would remain a trusted friend.
Diop was quoted as saying: ‘Whenever Mali has been in difficult situations since our independence, Russia has always been with us. Today we are in a difficult situation and we are still turning to this friend so that they can help us out.’
Mali has started relying on Russian mercenaries to help with combatting an Islamist insurgency. Some have accused the mercenaries of having ties to the Russian government but this has been denied.
At the same time there is growing hostility to presence of troops from France (Mali’s former colonial power) in the country. France has started withdrawing these troops.