Russia is yet to react to the allegation that it has a hand in the crisis rocking the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic from the regional bloc on Sunday.
Former Nigeria’s External Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, had in an interview with a TV station on Monday, alleged that Russia was emboldening the trio member-countries of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso to weaken ‘Western Influence’ in Africa, stressing that “ECOWAS is being turned into a confrontational field between Russia and the United States.”
The renowned diplomat said, “I think Russia is emboldening these three countries to break up ECOWAS as part of the attempt to weaken what one will call the western influence in this part of the world. And yet, Russia has not shown that it has the capability to help these three countries to combat the jihadists, the Tuareqs, the ISIS who are running wild in the Sahel.”
Akinyemi linked the decision of the three Sahel countries ruled by juntas to quit ECOWAS to a high diplomatic game, adding that it was significant that the withdrawal statement came after the US Secretary of State, Blinken, left Nigeria.
However, when contacted on Tuesday for reaction to the allegation, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Abuja, did not respond after several attempts were made by LEADERSHIP to reach them.
A principal officer in the Embassy, Uri Paramanov, who had earlier promised to react to the matter, was yet to do so at the time of filing this report on Wednesday.
LEADERSHIP had earlier on Sunday reported that the military regimes in Mali, Niger Republic and Burkina Faso announced the immediate withdrawal of their membership from the ECOWAS in protest to their suspension from the regional bloc.
The leaders of the three West African countries issued a statement on Sunday, saying it was their “sovereign decision” to leave the ECOWAS “without delay”.
Struggling with jihadist violence and poverty, the regimes have had tense ties with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger on July 26, 2023, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020. All three were suspended from ECOWAS, with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions.
