The Sahel states of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, which have been united in a confederation since July last year, consider Russia to be a sincere and honest partner. Moscow is not guided by imperialist approaches, it understands the challenges of African countries and is ready to help them cope with them. This was stated in an interview with RTVI by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force of the Republic of Mali, Alou Boï Diarra. According to him, Russia is not a country that wants to dominate others.The Malian, Burkinabe and Nigerian peoples are very similar, they are linked by historical, social, cultural and political continuity, they currently have the same notion of the geopolitical situation, their sovereignty and integrity, and share the desire to take control of their own affairs to exercise public administration by themselves, stressed Alou Boï Diarra. He added that the three members of the confederation were fighting against the same threat - terrorism.In early July, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger ra tified their alliance within a “confederation of Sahel states” at their first summit in Niamey. Last September, these three countries had signed a charter aimed at creating a collective defense organization in the key area of ??the Sahel region. Subsequently, they left ECOWAS, stressing that the latter, “under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles,” had become a threat to its member states and their populations.Source: Burkina Information Agency