Latest news with #AbdoulayeDiop
TimesLIVE
29-04-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Landlocked Burkina, Mali, Niger back sea access through Morocco
Foreign ministers of military-ruled Sahel states of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger said on Monday they endorse an initiative offering them access to global trade through Morocco's Atlantic ports, Morocco's state news agency reported. The foreign ministers expressed their countries' position during a meeting with Morocco's King Mohammed VI in Rabat, it said. The West African nations, run by juntas that have taken power in coups in recent years, withdrew from the regional grouping Ecowas last year and formed an alliance known as the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). Morocco, a major investor in West Africa's financial and agricultural sectors, announced its trade access initiative in November 2023, after Ecowas imposed trade restrictions on the three states. The initiative is conducive to "diversifying our access to the sea", Mali's foreign minister Abdoulaye Diop told state media.
Business Insider
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Landlocked Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger turn to Morocco for trade lifeline
The announcement was made on Monday during a meeting with King Mohammed VI in Rabat, according to the Moroccan state news agency. The three landlocked countries, currently ruled by military juntas following recent coups, withdrew from the ECOWAS region in 2024 and have since sought alternative partnerships to circumvent trade restrictions and diplomatic isolation. Since the formation of the AES alliance, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have distanced themselves from their traditional Western partners, expelled French forces, and deepened military cooperation with Russia. Morocco's offer represents a vital lifeline for the AES, giving it potential access to global markets while reducing its dependence on ECOWAS border states such as Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal. The Moroccan initiative, first announced in November 2023, provides access to Morocco's Atlantic ports to facilitate trade for the AES bloc. The project is seen as a strategic move by Morocco to strengthen its regional influence while promoting economic development in the Sahel region. "This initiative contributes to diversifying our access to the sea," Mali's Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop told local media. The Moroccan news agency described the meeting in Rabat as part of the kingdom's "strong and long-standing relations with the three brotherly countries of the Sahel Alliance." The support comes at a time of rising tensions between the AES bloc and Algeria, Morocco's regional rival. Morocco has invested heavily in the region, particularly in agriculture and banking, and is currently building a $1 billion port in Dakhla, within the disputed Western Sahara territory, to develop its maritime infrastructure and assert control. In December, Morocco played a key diplomatic role in brokering the release of four French citizens imprisoned in Burkina Faso. This came shortly after France recognized Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, further aligning Rabat with the Sahel's emerging leadership.
Reuters
28-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Landlocked Burkina, Mali, Niger back sea access through Morocco
RABAT, April 28 (Reuters) - Foreign ministers of military-ruled Sahel states of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger said on Monday they endorse an initiative offering them access to global trade through Morocco's Atlantic ports, Morocco's state news agency reported. The foreign ministers expressed their countries' position during a meeting with Morocco's King Mohammed VI in Rabat, it said. The West African nations, run by juntas that have taken power in coups in recent years, withdrew from the regional grouping ECOWAS last year and formed an alliance known as the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). Morocco, a major investor in West Africa's financial and agricultural sectors, announced its trade access initiative in November 2023, after ECOWAS imposed trade restrictions on the three states. The initiative is conducive to "diversifying our access to the sea," Mali's foreign minister Abdoulaye Diop told state media. The meeting "is part of the strong and longstanding relations of the Kingdom with the three brotherly countries of the Alliance of Sahel States," Morocco's news agency said. The visit takes place as relations between the AES and Algeria, Morocco's regional rival, deteriorate. Algeria has cut ties with Morocco and backs the Polisario Front which seeks an independent state in Western Sahara, a territory Morocco considers its own and where it is building a port worth $1 billion. The new AES grouping expelled French and other Western forces and turned towards Russia for military support. In December, Morocco mediated the release of four French spies held in Burkina Faso, five months after Paris recognised Rabat's sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Russia Today
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine fueling instability in Africa
Ukraine is acting as a destabilizing force in Africa by backing terrorist groups in the Sahel region, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop has said. In an interview with RIA Novosti on Monday, Diop claimed Ukraine's actions pose a significant threat to regional security. 'I must say that Mali, which has also severed relations with Ukraine, considers Ukraine a terrorist state to the extent that Ukraine has openly called for and declared its support for terrorist groups in the Sahel,' the minister stated. This has resulted in the deaths of numerous Malian soldiers and civilians, he added. The minister emphasized that Bamako condemns Kiev's actions, stressing that it must be held accountable. 'Ukraine must take responsibility and ensure that the African peoples do not regard it as a troublemaker, an irresponsible actor, creating instability in our regions,' Diop added. Diop also underlined that Mali and its regional partners back efforts to resolve the conflict between Moscow and Kiev, while insisting that any settlement must address Russia's security concerns. Read more Ukraine linked to Africa terror attack: What we know so far According to the Malian top diplomat, 'peace between Russia and Ukraine will be beneficial for the whole world, for stability, as well as for the global economy, for the economies of our countries, and we therefore support it. In any case, we call on Russia to continue its current efforts to establish peace with its neighbor.' The remarks followed the first-ever consultations between the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and Russia, held in Moscow last week at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Diop and his counterparts from Niger and Burkina Faso held talks with Lavrov and later attended a joint press conference. During the briefing, Diop reiterated his accusations against Ukraine, declaring that 'Ukraine is a sponsor of terrorism, and this must be stopped.' The leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have repeatedly accused Kiev of providing weapons and training to Tuareg rebels and jihadist fighters in the Sahel. Reports have claimed that Ukrainian military intelligence supplied information used in a deadly ambush last July, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of Malian troops and Russian Wagner Group contractors. Kiev has denied the allegations, although Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andrey Yusov reportedly acknowledged involvement in the attack. READ MORE: Ukraine a 'sponsor of terrorism' – Malian FM Mali severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine in early August, following controversial comments made by Yusov regarding operations in northern Mali. Days later, Niger's military-led government followed suit in solidarity. Burkina Faso's ambassador to Russia, Aristide Tapsoba, confirmed to TASS that 'currently, there are almost no diplomatic relations between Burkina Faso and Ukraine.'
Russia Today
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
'Ukraine is a sponsor of terrorism'
Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop has accused Ukraine of providing support to terrorist groups operating in the Sahel region. He made the remark during a press conference in Moscow on Thursday after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as well as the foreign ministers of Niger and Burkina Faso, Mali's fellow members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). 'These terrorists are supported by external actors, regional actors present in our region who assist them and provide them with logistical support — for example, Ukraine,' the minister said. 'Ukraine is a sponsor of terrorism, and this must be stopped,' Diop emphasized. Lavrov echoed these concerns, asserting that Kiev has become a destabilizing force in Africa. 'Some extra-regional players are still attempting to destabilize the region. Among them, in addition to the former colonizers, there has recently been a Kiev regime that, with the full connivance of its Western sponsors, openly supports terrorist groups in this part of Africa,' Lavrov stated. READ MORE: Ukraine linked to Africa terror attack: What we know so far The military rulers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have all accused Ukraine of arming and training Tuareg rebels and jihadist insurgents in the Sahel region after officials in Kiev allegedly provided intelligence to rebels for an ambush last July that killed scores of Malian soldiers, as well as Russian Wagner Group contractors. These claims have been echoed by French media outlets but are denied by Kiev, despite the Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) spokesman claiming responsibility for the insurgent attack. In early August, Mali severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine after Andrey Yusov, the spokesman for Ukraine's HUR, made remarks about fighting in northern Mali. Days later, Niger's military government followed suit, in solidarity with its neighbor. Burkina Faso's Ambassador to Russia Aristide Tapsoba told TASS that 'currently, there are almost no diplomatic relations between Burkina Faso and Ukraine. Since we have created the AES, there is only one path - what one country decides, the other countries follow.' READ MORE: Terrorists of the world, unite! Why Ukraine's attempts to hurt Russia will fail Speaking to RT in November, Haruna Warkani, a retired diplomat of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, also made the allegations. 'Ukraine ... has never been transparent enough to tell the subregion or other parts of Africa its nefarious activities on the continent, and now we can see that Ukraine actually had been the enemy,' he said.
