US sanctions Mali defense minister over Wagner ties

The US has sanctioned Mali's defense minister and two officials for allegedly facilitating Wagner's expansion in the country.

On July 24, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on three Malian officials, including Defense Minister Sadio Camara, Air Force Chief of Staff Alou Boi Diarra and Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff Adama Bagayoko.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused the three officials of working together to "facilitate the expansion of the Russian private military group Wagner's presence in Mali since December 2021", adding that civilian casualties had increased by 278% since Wagner troops were deployed to the country.

Colonel Sadio Camar (center) when he was appointed as Mali's Defense Minister in 2021. Photo: CGTN — Colonel Sadio Camar (center) when he was appointed as Mali's Defense Minister in 2021. Photo: *CGTN*

Mali's Defense Minister Camara visited Russia several times in 2021 to reinforce Wagner's agreement with Mali's transitional government to deploy private military group fighters to the country.

The US alleges that Minister Camara and Colonel Diarra planned to deploy Wagner soldiers to Mali, coordinating operations with Wagner commanders in the African country. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Bagayoko worked with the transitional government in Burkina Faso to help Wagner mercenaries deploy to the neighboring country. Bagayoko is also said to have facilitated Wagner's gold mining in Mali.

“These officials have put their own people at risk of harm from Wagner’s destabilizing actions, paving the way for the company to exploit resources to fuel its operations in Ukraine,” said US Treasury Undersecretary Brian Nelson.

The sanctions allow the US to freeze any assets of the three Malian officials in the US and prohibit Americans from providing finance, goods or services to these individuals.

Mali's transitional government has not commented on the move. Burkina Faso's interim leader Ibrahim Traore said in May that Wagner was not in the country.

Two members — Two gunmen believed to be Russian mercenaries in northern Mali in this photo released by the French military. Photo: AP

Mali is a West African country bordered by Algeria, Niger, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Senegal, with an area of over 1.2 million square kilometres and a population of over 21 million. One of Mali's most notable natural resources is gold, and the country is the third largest gold producer in Africa.

Mali was a French colony until 1960. In 2013, France sent thousands of troops to Mali and neighboring countries to help them fight Islamist rebels. Relations between Mali and French forces deteriorated after a 2020 coup that led to the installation of a military government in the West African country. Last year, France withdrew its troops from Mali, while Wagner is said to have increased its presence in the country.

Wagner was founded in 2014 and has significantly increased the size of its forces and the scope of its operations in recent years. Western intelligence considers Wagner contractors to be “Russian mercenaries,” saying they have fought in many hot spots in Africa and the Middle East.

The US has imposed sanctions on Wagner and has repeatedly warned that Washington will take further action to respond to its destabilising actions. The US has also described Mali as a place for Russia to increase its influence in Africa.

Russia and Mali both say that Russian forces in the African country are not mercenaries but experts assisting local soldiers in fighting Islamist rebels.