America issues a warning to Mali. The State Department is worried about a possible recourse by the authorities in Bamako to the group of Russian mercenaries Wagner. According to the United States, such a decision would not only be very costly, but would also have potentially serious consequences, as in Libya or the Central African Republic.
With our correspondent in Washington, Guillaume Naudin
$ 10 million per month. This is what Mali would cost, according to the State Department, a possible contract with the Wagner company, Russian mercenary group known to be close to Vladimir Poutine and suspected of serving more or less directly the interests of Russia in the countries where he is deployed.
In its press release of Wednesday, December 15, the State Department believes that this money would be better used to help Malian forces fight terrorism or for public services. According to the text, the Wagner group, which is the subject of US sanctions, is known for destabilize and impoverish the countries in which it operates. And the press release cites the examples of Ukraine, Syria, and closer to Mali, Libya and Central African Republic.
In the latter country, according to Washington, Wagner’s mercenaries were guilty of human rights violations and extrajudicial killings. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had already warned Mali last month during his visit to Senegal. The United States also regrets the Malian refusal to deploy additional United Nations forces ” who would have contributed, at no additional cost, to the protection of civilians “.
The US remains concerned about the deployment of the Wagner group in Mali at a cost of $ 10 million / month, funds that should benefit Malians and the Malian armed forces. The Wagner group makes countries poorer, weaker and less secure. https://t.co/FyDeqlu5MM
– USA in French (@USAenFrancais) December 15, 2021