Russian Relief Coming - Bamako

FILE - This representative illustration of grain, taken June 14, 2022, reflects part of the food, fuel, and fertilizer assistance to Mali that Russia has announced.

Mali expects Russia to send shipments of fuel, fertiliser and food worth around $100 million to Mali in the coming weeks, the West African country's economy minister, Alousseini Sanou, said on Wednesday.

Minister Sanou said Russia was going to send 60,000 tons of petroleum products, 30,000 tons of fertilizer and 25,000 tons of wheat.

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the provision of such supplies with his Malian counterpart in August

In October, Putin told Mali's interim president, Assimi Goita, that Moscow was committed to strengthening cooperation to help root out "terrorist groups" in Mali. - a sign of deepening ties as Bamako's relationship soured with its long-time ally and former colonial ruler, France.

Bamako told the French military to leave several months ago, putting an end to Mali's involvement in the Paris-led effort to stop insurgents. In the wake of France's departure, Mali turned to the Russian-owned mercenary "Wagner Group" to back government forces.

Mali's ruling military junta came to power in a 2020 coup and has sparred repeatedly with neighboring countries and Western powers over election delays, alleged army abuses and cooperation with Russian mercenaries in its fight against an Islamist insurgency.