Russia plays a key role in ensuring the sovereignty of the members of the Alliance of Sahel States (Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger), Aliu Tunkara, a member of the Malian Parliament and the head of the Russian House in the country, said on the sidelines of the Valdai Discussion Forum.
"In the process of building a confederation between the three countries, Russia plays a key role, since it is a strategic partner of each country and ensures their security… I think that Russia will make sure that we can feel more free, so that we can first ensure our security," Tunkara noted.
Tunkara added that many African countries want to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) due to its ineffectiveness.
Earlier, Abdoul Sacko, the coordinator of the Forum of Social Forces of Guinea, told Sputnik Africa that ECOWAS must "reform its independence." He added that the organization should demonstrate its primary mission is to "defend and promote stability, both economic and political, and to support countries within the sub-region."