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.
“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.
Source: Εuractiv.com
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