EU foreign policy chief warns Mali against Russian mercenary deal – EURACTIV.com

European Union ties with Mali could be seriously affected if it allows Russian private military contractors to operate in the country, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned on Monday (20 September).

Diplomatic and security sources told Reuters that Mali’s one-year-old military junta is close to recruiting the Wagner Group to supply mercenaries to train Mali’s military and protect senior officials.

France has launched a diplomatic drive to thwart the move. Paris says it would be “incompatible” with a continued French presence.

Germany, France warn Mali over Russian mercenary deal

Germany warned Mali on Wednesday (15 September) that a deal with Russian private security group Wagner would “call into question” its deployment in the West African country as part of United Nations and European Union missions.

European Union foreign ministers discussed the issue on Monday during a closed-door meeting on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders for the UN General Assembly in New York.

“This certainly could seriously affect European Union relations with Mali,” Borrell told reporters after the meeting.

“We already know the Wagner Group and the way they have been behaving in different parts of the world. And certainly this would not help … our relations with the Mali government,” Borrell said.

West Africa’s main political bloc, ECOWAS, as well as other allies combating militants in the Sahel region, have also expressed concerns over the potential deal.

Mali’s military junta has said it will oversee a transition to democracy leading to elections in February 2022.