According to this writing by Amadou Yossi, on January 10, Anna Evstigneeva, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, spoke at a meeting of the Security Council on West Africa and the Sahel.
Anna Evstigneeva noted that the region faces increased terrorist challenges, inter-ethnic and inter-community conflicts continue, and organized crime and drug trafficking thrive. Russia expresses its support for all those fighting terrorism in the region.
Russia’s deputy permanent representative to the UN also said that Western states were trying to accuse the Russian Federation to plunder African resources or contribute to the growth of terrorist threats. The Russian side denies any such accusations. According to the diplomat, such statements can be considered as “an insult to common sense and the ability of African states to assess the causes of problems, as well as their right to make a sovereign choice with whom to cooperate“. Evstigneeva also pointed out that it is precisely the countries that have made such statements that do so all over the world, in Africa in particular. “It is precisely because of the desire to plunder the resources of Libya that they did not stop destroying this country and destabilizing the entire Sahel.said Russia’s deputy permanent representative to the UN.
As for the situation in Mali, Russia, on the basis of bilateral agreements, provides the country with all possible assistance in the field of security and rejects any allegation aimed at denigrating Russian aid to Mali and other countries on the continent. Despite the withdrawal of Operation Barkhane and Takuba forces from Mali, the Malian armywhich had to assume full responsibility in the fight against terrorism, already showing positive results.
Anna Evstigneeva expressed concern about the attempts of some Western countries to divide African unity, to pit one against another, especially because of their cooperation with Russia, which can only aggravate the situation.
Regarding the situation in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, Russia called on ECOWAS to conduct an equal and respectful dialogue with the authorities of these countries in order to resolve the existing differences. The Russian side resolutely defends the principle “African solutions to African problems”. In other words, the main role in maintaining peace and security in the region should belong to its member states.
Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN summed up that Russia will continue to participate constructively, including as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, in collective efforts to ensure stability in Africa of the West and the Sahel. Russia will continue to support regional states on a bilateral basis, including increasing the combat capability of the armed forces, training military and law enforcement personnel and providing humanitarian aid.
Amadou Yossi