Putin’s Blue-eyed Man Visits West Africa in sign of deepening ties

Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, on a one-day visit to Mali, has said Moscow will continue to help Bamako improve its military capabilities. Mali junta leaders want Russia’s help to battle an Islamist insurgency that remains entrenched despite years of fighting. Since taking control of Mali in two coups since August 2020, the military junta…