Moscow enhancing security ties with North African state

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf have met to discuss ways to strengthen the already “strong” strategic relations between Moscow and the North African nation.

The bilateral talks took place on Saturday on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

“Both sides expressed satisfaction with the high level of political dialogue and coordination in various multilateral formats, including at the UN Security Council and General Assembly,” the ministry said. According to the statement, the diplomats also discussed current global and regional issues, with a focus on the alarming escalation of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the security crisis in the Sahel region.

“The ministers noted the importance of resolving conflict situations exclusively by political and diplomatic methods based on generally recognized principles of international legality,” the ministry reported.

Several African nations have sought to deepen ties with Russia in a variety of fields in recent years, including trade and security. This is despite France and some of its allies, including the US, accusing Moscow of pursuing a predatory agenda on the continent and fueling anti-West sentiment.

Algeria, one of Moscow’s top African trading partners, has had strained relations with Paris since 2021. In July, Algiers criticized France for endorsing a controversial Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara, calling the “ill-timed” move a reprise of colonial rule in the disputed territory.

Sahel states Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have all severed defense ties with former colonial power France, citing meddling and the alleged failure of French forces to combat a jihadist insurgency that has devastated the region for years. This month, Washington also completed the withdrawal of its troops from Niger after authorities there cancelled a security cooperation agreement. All three African nations have turned to Moscow for assistance in addressing militant violence, hailing it as a strategic ally.

On Saturday, Lavrov told reporters in New York that Russia intends to help African countries enhance their security and defense capabilities. He denounced recent attacks on Malian forces by rebels allegedly backed by Ukraine as “banditry.” 

“It has been proven by facts that Ukrainians work with terrorist organizations that fight the legitimate government of Mali,” the diplomat said in response to a question.

“We will do everything so that African countries that want to live by their own wits and choose their own paths of development have support in the area of ensuring security and defense. We are doing this,” Lavrov declared.

Ukraine has been embroiled in a diplomatic crisis in West Africa since July, when Tuareg insurgents killed dozens of Wagner Group private military personnel and Malian forces in an ambush in northern Mali. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger jointly wrote to the UN Security Council on August 19, demanding action against Kiev after they interpreted remarks from Ukrainian officials about the incident as a claim of direct responsibility. The Ukrainian government has denied providing any support to the Tuareg militants.