Goïta concludes Niger and Burkina Faso tour with strong support for AES
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Camer.be
Malian junta leader Assimi Goïta visited Niger and then Burkina Faso, where he held talks with Abdourahamane Tiani and Ibrahim Traoré on consolidating the AES Confederation and combating terrorism. The two leaders also condemned attempts at destabilisation by mercenaries receiving foreign support, just days after the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow in late October, according to Camer.be.
In Niamey, Malian President Assimi Goïta and Niger's leader Abdourahamane Tiani condemned attempts to destabilise members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, by mercenaries receiving support from foreign states. The joint statement issued after their meeting also mentioned the consolidation of the AES Confederation and the fight against terrorism.
In Ouagadougou, Burkinabe President Ibrahim Traoré presented Assimi Goïta with initiatives aimed at strengthening cooperation between the three countries in development and counter-terrorism, according to sources close to the discussions cited by PressAfrik. Ibrahim Traoré holds the rotating presidency of the AES Confederation.
The tour follows Assimi Goïta's visit to Moscow on 28 and 29 October for the third Russia-Africa summit. According to sources close to the meetings cited by PressAfrik, the Malian leader shared with his Nigerien and Burkinabe counterparts details of the discussions held in Russia. Russia provides the AES with military personnel, equipment, training and political support, according to the BBC.
