President Putin phones interim president of Mali

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Mali’s interim president for a transitional period, Assimi Goita, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

“At the initiative of the Malian side, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with the President for a transitional period of Mali Assimi Goita,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

Particular attention was paid to the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region, the statement read.

In particular, the sides noted the importance of resolving the situation around Niger by exclusively peaceful political and diplomatic means.