Russia is committed to ensuring that West Africa remains a region of peace and stability and stands ready to act as a mediator to normalize relations between regional states, Igor Evdokimov, the Russian Ambassador to Benin and Togo, said in an interview with TASS.
"Russia is interested in West Africa remaining a space for peace and stability. Therefore, we fully welcome the current trend toward increased cooperation within ECOWAS. We intend to facilitate the restoration of dialogue between ECOWAS and the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). We are convinced that existing dividing lines contribute neither to mutual trust nor to the development of cooperation between these blocs," the diplomat emphasized.
Evdokimov noted that all the necessary conditions are now in place to give this process a new momentum. "For our part, we are ready to conduct relevant mediation work, including on a bilateral basis — specifically regarding the normalization of relations between Benin and Niger—while taking into full account the interests of all involved parties," he added.
The diplomat stressed that Russia consistently adheres to the principle of "African solutions to African problems." He stated that the future of the continent lies in seeking compromises through inclusive, equal dialogue, free from externally imposed models that have repeatedly proven ineffective in practice.
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Based on materials from TASS