Russian mercenaries from the notorious Wagner security company have begun deploying to Mali, with Moscow's help, supporting 15 Western countries involved in operations against jihadists in that country.
"We are aware of the involvement of the Government of the Russian Federation in providing material support for the deployment of the Wagner company in Mali and call on Russia to return to a responsible and constructive stance in the region," they stressed in their statement.
The 15 countries (France, Belgium, Britain, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, France, Belgium, Lithuania, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania and Sweden) do not, however, go so far as to threaten Bamako with the withdrawal of their forces from Mali. France has so far maintained that the presence of Wagner's mercenaries on Malian territory is "incompatible" with the presence of French soldiers in the region.
According to a French government source, 'there are currently repeated air movements, with military transports belonging to the Russian army, there are facilities at the Bamako airport to receive a significant number of mercenaries, frequent visits by Wagner officials to Bamako and the activities of Russian geologists known for their close links with Wagner'.
The deployment of mercenaries "will aggravate the security situation in West Africa (...), threatens the peace and reconciliation agreement in Mali and hampers the efforts of the international community to protect civilians and support the Malian armed forces", the 15 countries say in the statement addressed to the Malian junta, which they also call on to organise "elections as soon as possible".
French and Russian presidents Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on Tuesday to discuss Moscow's relations with the West and the unfolding situation in Mali.
France, which has maintained a presence in Sahel for nine years, decided in June to reorganise its military forces, abandoning three bases in Mali (Tesalit, Kidal and Tobouktou) to concentrate around Gao and Menaka, near the border with Niger and Burkina Faso. This plan also includes a reduction of French forces in Sahel from 5,000 men to 2,500-3,000 by 2023.
Source: First Issue
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