Russia’s Military Deal with Mali Further Encroaches on France’s Influence in West Africa
Russia is making rapid progress in presenting a “balancing” alternative to French domination in Paris’ Françafrique “sphere of influence” in Africa after signing a military deal with the terrorist-plagued but geostrategically significant state of Mali during the visit of its Defense Minister to Moscow last week. Russia’s “Pivot to Africa” is accelerating after the Eurasian…