AFRICA

US Sanctions Mali’s Defence Minister, Officials Over Ties To Russian Mercenaries 

The US has sanctioned Mali’s defence minister and two military officers, accusing them of facilitating the expansion of the Russian mercenary company Wagner in the West African country.

On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken imposed sanctions on Malian Defence Minister Colonel Sadio Camara, Air Force Chief of Staff Colonel Alou Boi Diarra, and Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Adama Bagayoko.

Blinken accused the trio of attempting to “facilitate and expand Wagner’s presence in Mali since December 2021,” noting that civilian mortality had increased by 278 percent since the Russian mercenaries arrived.

The US Treasury Department said it sanctioned Mali’s Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, for making repeated visits to Russia in 2021 to cement a deal between the Wagner Group and the Malian transition government to send the mercenary army to the West African country.

An official of the department, Brian Nelson, stated that Malian officials were “instrumental in facilitating the Wagner Group’s entrenchment in Mali over the past two years.”

According to him, “These officials have made their people vulnerable to the Wagner Group’s destabilizing activities and human rights abuses while paving the way for the exploitation of their country’s sovereign resources to the benefit of the Wagner Group’s operations in Ukraine.”

Secetary Blinken aslo stated, “Many of those deaths were the result of operations conducted by the Malian Armed Forces alongside members of the Wagner Group.”

For years, the United States and its allies have sanctioned the Wagner Group and those who support it. The United Kingdom, for example, sanctioned 13 people with ties to the Wagner Group in the Central African Republic, Mali, and Sudan last week.

Russia and Mali have both stated that Russian forces in the African country are not mercenaries, but rather trainers assisting local troops in fighting a decade-long insurgency by Islamist extremists.

The US expressed worry about the Wagner Group’s destabilising actions in Africa and accused the group’s commander of assisting in the evacuation of UN forces from Mali.

Last month, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby informed reporters that the US had evidence showing that Mali’s transition government has paid Wagner more than $200 million since late 2021.

Glamour Adah

Follow us on:

AriseNews

View Comments

  • GOIF3 ₦400, 000
    GOIF4 ₦500,000
    Toyota Camry Tiny Light ₦550,000
    Toyota Corolla ₦600,000.
    Toyota 4Runner ₦850,000
    Toyota Avalon ₦700,000
    Toyota Highlander ₦900,000
    Toyota Matrix #700,000
    Toyota Rav4 ₦780,000
    Toyota Sequoia ₦900,000
    Toyota Tacoma ₦1.2M
    Toyota Tundra ₦1.8M
    Toyota Yaris ₦650,000
    Honda Baby Boy ₦550,000
    Honda Accord EOD ₦600,000
    Honda City ₦550,000
    Honda Crosstour ₦2.6M
    Honda CR-V ₦800,000.
    Honda Odyssey ₦650,000
    Honda Pilot ₦950,000
    Lexus RX300 ₦1.4Million
    Lexus RX330 ₦1.7Million
    Lexus RX350 ₦2.4Million
    Land Rover Discovery ₦3.2Million
    Land Rover Freelander ₦3.6Million
    Land Range Rover Sport ₦2Million
    Range Rover evogue 3.0m
    Acura MDX ₦1.8Million
    Audi A4 ₦500,000
    Audi A6 ₦700,000
    BMW 3-Series ₦1.3Million
    BMW 5-Series ₦1.6Million
    BMW X5 ₦1.8Million
    BMW X6 ₦2.3Million
    Infiniti FX35 ₦1.9Million
    Infiniti FX45 ₦2.6Million
    Infiniti QX4 ₦2.1Million
    Mazda 626 ₦600,000
    Mazda MPV ₦640,000
    Mercedes-Benz C-Class ₦1.3Million
    Mercedes-Benz E-Class ₦1.8Million
    Mercedes-Benz GLK ₦3.Million
    Mercedes-Benxz ML320 ₦1Million
    Mercedes-Benz ML350 ₦3Million
    Nissan Altima ₦1.4Million
    Nissan Armanda ₦1.9Million
    Nissan Maxima ₦2.1Million.......O7O 4540 6674

Recent Posts

Netanyahu Risks Arrest in UK as ICC Issues Warrant Against Him For War Crimes

Israeli PM Netanyahu faces potential arrest in the UK as Downing Street pledges to fulfill…

2 hours ago

Second Australian Teen Dies from Suspected Methanol Poisoning in Laos

A second Australian teenager has died of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, bringing to six…

2 hours ago

Simon Ekpa Arrested, Denies Being IPOB Leader + Atiku Says Tinubu’s Loans Are Bone-Crushing – Trending With Ojy Okpe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFlFl1mPGC8 The arrest of self-proclaimed Prime minister of the Biafra Republic, Simon Ekpa who was…

2 hours ago

Gatwick Airport South Terminal Evacuated, Bomb Disposal Team Deployed Suspicious Item Found In Luggage

Gatwick Airport's South Terminal was evacuated after a suspected prohibited item was found, prompting bomb…

2 hours ago

Trump Considers Kevin Warsh for Treasury Secretary, Role Of Chairman Of Federal Reserve

Trump is considering Kevin Warsh for Treasury Secretary, with a future possibility of him becoming…

5 hours ago

Hyundai Recalls 145,235 Electrified Vehicles In The US Due To Power Loss Issue

Hyundai has recalled 145,235 electrified vehicles in the US. due to potential loss of drive…

5 hours ago