Latest news with #Yevkurov
Libya Review
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
Libya & Russia Discuss Military & Economic Cooperation
Libya's Chief of Security Units Staff, Lieutenant General Khaled Haftar, held a high-level meeting with Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov during an official visit to Moscow. The discussions focused on a range of strategic issues of mutual concern, with both sides exploring avenues to enhance bilateral cooperation. The meeting underscored the importance of strengthening ties in military and security fields, as well as expanding collaboration in areas such as economic development and reconstruction. Deputy Defence Minister Yevkurov praised the role of Libya's Armed Forces in maintaining national security and stability, stating that a stable Libya is critical to ensuring broader regional stability. For his part, Lieutenant General Khaled Haftar highlighted the longstanding ties between Libya and Russia, stressing the need to further deepen cooperation across multiple sectors. He emphasised that enhanced military and economic collaboration would serve the shared interests of both nations. This visit marks a continued effort by Libyan and Russian officials to reinforce strategic partnerships amid evolving geopolitical dynamics. Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations. Libya's economy, heavily reliant on oil, has suffered due to the ongoing conflict. The instability has led to fluctuations in oil production and prices, impacting the global oil market and Libya's economy. The conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis in Libya, with thousands of people killed, and many more displaced. Migrants and refugees using Libya as a transit point to Europe have also faced dire conditions. The planned elections for December 2021 were delayed due to disagreements over election laws and the eligibility of certain candidates. This delay has raised concerns about the feasibility of a peaceful political transition. Despite the ceasefire, security remains a significant concern with sporadic fighting and the presence of mercenaries and foreign fighters. The unification of the military and the removal of foreign forces are crucial challenges. Tags: Khaled HaftarlibyaLibyan armymoscowRussiaYunus-bek Yevkurov
Russia Today
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russia and Mali boosting defense ties
A high-level Russian delegation led by Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov has visited Mali and held talks with the West African nation's officials on strengthening bilateral security cooperation. Yevkurov's trip to Mali comes after he signed a military cooperation agreement in the Central African Republic during a visit late in February. Mali's interim president, General Assimi Goita, received the Russian delegation on Tuesday, his office announced in a brief statement on Wednesday. Russian news agency African Initiative reported that negotiations between Yevkurov and Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara focused on the security situation in the Sahel region. The parties also discussed implementing previously signed bilateral agreements on military-technical cooperation, according to the outlet. Mali's north has been an epicenter of a lethal jihadist insurgency in the Sahel region, which erupted in 2012 and has since spread to neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso. Fatalities reported across the three West African countries reached an all-time high of 7,620 in the first half of 2024 alone, according to the non-profit organization Armed Conflict Location and Event Data. The military rulers of Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou have severed defense ties with some previous partners, including France and the US, accusing them of failing to quell the decade-long violence. The former French colonies have jointly sought security cooperation with Moscow in combating terrorism under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) they recently established. Last September, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Niger's ambassador to Russia, Abdou Sidikou Isa, held talks about resolving the longstanding conflicts in the Sahel region days after an Al-Qaeda-linked group claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a military training school in Bamako, Mali. The discussions in Moscow also came weeks after rebels allegedly backed by Ukraine carried out an ambush that killed scores of Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner Group contractors. Russia has since assured the African state and its allies Niger and Burkina Faso of its military support. Last month, Anton Kobyakov, an adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Moscow has made developing partnerships with Africa a top foreign policy priority. Earlier in February, the Russian Foreign Ministry inaugurated its Department of Partnership with Africa, a move Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said reflects how the Kremlin prioritizes its ties with the continent's countries.
