Russia's representative for cooperation with African countries Mikhail Margelov, has said on Monday that Ethiopia and South Africa's involvement in stabilizing Mali would increase the African Union (AU)'s role in international affairs.
Margelov told Interfax news agency that the involvement of the two countries was important as they were two leaders on the African continent.
"It has become clear that al-Qaida forces in Islamic Magrib have been better trained and armed than it was believed earlier," the envoy said.
Delays in setting up the African standby force left the crisis to escalate and the country's authorities were forced to seek support from France to liberate its northern region, which was under the control of rebels, Margelov said.
France swept to the aid of the Malian army on Jan. 11 as rebel forces controlling large parts of the West African country's north pushed south towards the capital, Bamako.
On Jan. 11, the Malian government declared a state of emergency for 10 days and further extended it for another three months.