Bolaji Akinyemi, a former minister of foreign affairs for Nigeria, has claimed that Russia was involved in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso’s decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) alliance.
The former minister claimed that Russia was giving the three countries more confidence to split apart ECOWAS during his Monday appearance on Arise TV’s Morning Show.
According to Akinyemi, Russia is supporting the three countries’ efforts to split ECOWAS as part of its strategy to reduce the influence of the West on the continent.
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“I see the hand of Russia in this, i think Russia is emboldening these three countries to breakup ECOWAS as part of the attempt to weaken 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 jihadist , the ISIS who are running wild in the sahel,” he said.
As previously reported by Anaedoonline.ng, on Sunday, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso jointly announced their decision to leave the West African grouping.
This occurred in the midst of growing hostilities between the three Sahelian countries and the regional union, especially after the military takeover in Niger.
Increased political tension in the area following the toppling of Niger’s democratically elected government prompted consideration of creating a counterforce against ECOWAS.
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President Bola Tinubu’s ECOWAS threatened to take military action if the Niger junta did not hand over control to a civilian government.
But the Nigerian dictatorship, supported by Burkina Faso and Mali, withstood these threats, promising to stand by its views.
The leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced their decision to leave ECOWAS in a single statement on Sunday, characterising it as a sovereign move.
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