French Defense Minister Florence Parly met with her Malian counterpart, Colonel Sadio Camara, yesterday (Monday), amid growing tensions in the war-torn Sahel state. The rising tension is reportedly linked to information that Mali plans to engage Russian mercenaries. France warned Bamako last week against signing a deal with the private security company Wagner. A report indicated that the military-dominated Malian government was considering recruiting 1,000 Russian paramilitaries. However, Mali has not responded to the French minister’s claim. France has clearly stated its opposition to the recruitment of mercenaries.
Parly’s visit comes after months of strained relations between Mali and France. Recently, Mali experienced two military coups within a year. Amid these tensions, France is considering a significant reduction of its troop presence in the Sahel region, with several French army bases in northern Mali set to close by early 2022.
Russian influence in the African region is growing. In recent years, Russia has been deploying paramilitaries, instructors, and private security companies in Africa. This development is particularly notable in the conflict-ridden Central African Republic (CAR). The United Nations (UN) has also reacted strongly to the presence of Russian agents in the country. The UN maintains 13,000 peacekeepers in this nation of 19 million people. Another country with troops in the region, Germany, is threatening to reconsider its decision. Mali is undergoing a political crisis. Colonel Assimi Goïta, the military strongman, ousted the leaders of the interim government in May—in a second coup—and was subsequently declared interim president himself. Goïta has pledged to adhere to the February 2022 deadline for civilian elections set by the previous interim government.