Mali defends Russian ties after France withdrawal

Mali’s foreign minister defended the military government’s cooperation with Russia on Friday and rejected three options proposed by the U.N. chief to reconfigure the U.N. peacekeeping force in the west African country.

Abdoulaye Diop told the U.N. Security Council that security is the country’s top priority and Mali will not continue to justify its partnership with Russia, which is providing training and equipment to the military.

Russia’s growing influence in Africa comes amid growing anti-French resentment in its former colonies in the continent.

Last year, the French ambassador and several French media outlets were thrown out from Mali, while all of its troops were withdrawn under heavy pressure from the Malian government.

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