Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced during a press conference on Tuesday that Russia and the Gambia have held talks on issues in the Sahara-Sahel region, addressing security concerns in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad.

Lavrov, after talks with Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara, expressed Russia’s concerns about the rising terrorist threat from jihadist militias, emphasizing how their impact is spreading across West Africa.

Russia and the Gambia solidified their diplomatic ties by signing a memorandum on inter-Ministry of Foreign Affairs consultations. Lavrov revealed that Russian representatives would serve as observers at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit scheduled for May in Banjul, the Gambia.