Russia and Sahel states deepen military ties as insurgent attacks persist

NIAMEY, July 9 (Reuters) - Russia and the West African countries making up the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) - ​Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso - have pledged ‌to strengthen military cooperation as jihadist insurgents gain ground in the region, according to a joint statement issued ​on Wednesday night after talks in Niger's ​capital, Niamey.

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• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met ⁠counterparts from the three military-led countries, which all ​turned to Moscow for support after breaking with ​France and other Western allies.

• The officials welcomed "growing military and military-technical cooperation", including assistance from Russia's paramilitary Africa Corps.

• Russia ​confirmed its intention to continue helping to strengthen ​the armed forces of the AES member states and of ‌their "Unified ⁠Force", the statement said.

• In April, the regional al Qaeda affiliate and a Tuareg-led separatist group staged attacks across Mali and killed the defence ​minister. On Saturday ​they attacked ⁠numerous army posts.

• The statement alleged, without evidence, that "external state actors" including ​Ukraine and France were involved in attacks ​in ⁠the region. Both have denied such allegations.

• Lavrov also visited Ethiopia on his Africa tour. A Russia-Africa ⁠summit ​is planned for October.

Reporting by ​Niger newsroom; Additional reporting by Ronald Popeski; Writing by Amindeh Blaise ​Atabong; Editing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Kevin Liffey

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