Although the Russian government has denied any link to the group, the incursion of the Wagner mercenaries into Mali has started to generate concerns and great fears within the western powers who are afraid of the former Soviet Union’s gradual influence in #Africa.
The Wagner Group, a private military contractor said to have ties with the Russian State, is reported to have between 300-400 mercenaries that are providing training and equipment and are reported to have a significant presence in #Libya and the #CentralAfricanRepublic, and other places around #Africa and coupled with its current negation with the Malian military Junta which is now sparking Washington’s worst fears about the gradual Russia influence in the continent.
Malian Coupists with its transitional government had earlier given an 18 months elections timetable in August 2020 after toppling President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita but now showing its inability to hold on to the promise of smooth elections in February 2022 and the expiration of its stay in power has started to significant interest to strike a deal with Russian backed mercenary – the Wagner Group.
The failure, perceived from the transitional government‘s inability to end corruption, human rights abuses, political score-settling, or even the military influence over civilian rulers and the Junta’s negotiation to empower the Russian backed mercenaries is regarded as a threat to France and its Allies hold on power in the continent, a clear indication of Russia’s significant interest in #Africa.
Pundits view Malian Junta’s planned deal with the Wagner group as not only placing the Military Authorities at a good vintage position for concessions that may include a two-for-one deal such as – international acceptance but with an option of extending the transition timetable and possibly a recommitment from France.
Whether the Malian Junta’s imminent deal with the Wagner Group is a bluff or a calculated threat over Western governments, certain quarters see it in the context of the mantra of “great power competition” in Washington and beyond.
It must also be remembered that in 1994, Mali signed defence cooperation agreements with Russia, and from 2017 to date, Bamako has been receiving deliveries of Russian-made attack helicopters including four that arrived on September 30, 2021.
IT would also be recollected that it is on record that at the recent United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York in late September, the Russian and Malian foreign ministers had a cordial meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA.
France on the other hand is already winding down an operation in which it has sent thousands of troops to Mali and neighboring Sahel countries to fight #jihadists.
This seeming face-off between Mali and France has resulted in a 72hours ultimatum to Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Foreign Minister, to leave the country after saying that Mali’s military government was “out of control” which is regarded as a hostile and outrageous comment.
The news expelling the French foreign minister caused citizens to erupt into wild celebrations in Mali as people in Bamako waved Russian flags and burned cardboard cut-outs of French President @EmmanuelMacron.
