OREANDA-NEWS The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrel, said that European countries are concerned about the withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso from the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) and the simultaneous strengthening of Russia's position in the region. This is reported by RIA Novosti.

"It is very important that these three states with military dictatorships have decided to leave the ECOWAS regional organization to create another group [of countries]. I believe that it will be more tied to Mali, the most powerful state among them. At the same time, we are witnessing an increase in Russia's influence, which is already very strong in Mali, and is likely to increase in the future in Niger and Burkina Faso. This creates a new geopolitical configuration in this region," Borrel said at a meeting in Brussels.

The head of European diplomacy added that the presence of the EU mission in Mali is coming to an end on May 24. After this date, Europe will discuss a possible extension of the mission in the country.

Earlier it was reported about the creation of an "African Corps" for former fighters of the Wagner PMCs in five countries of the continent. These include Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, CAR and Niger.