The US has imposed sanctions on Wagner’s Mali bureau chief, accusing the Russian “mercenary” group of using the West African country to buy and sell weapons.
The US Treasury Department described on May 25 Ivan Aleksandrovich Maslov, a Russian citizen, designated by Wagner security group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin to lead units in Mali. Wagner has been active in Mali since last year to help the junta deal with security issues and find business opportunities in the mining industry after France withdrew from the country.
The US says Maslov works closely with Malian authorities to establish Wagner’s presence in Mali and elsewhere in Africa. Maslov arranged meetings between Prigozhin and government officials from several African countries.
Three Russian mercenaries and a Malian soldier (far left) patrol northern Mali in January 2022. Photo: AP
“Wagner Corporation may be attempting to cover up purchases of military equipment for use in Ukraine, including through Mali and other countries where it is located,” the US Treasury Department said in a statement.
The agency said Wagner may be using false documents to conceal trade, mine transport, drones, radar and counter-artillery systems for use in Ukraine. The United States also describes Mali as a hub for Russia’s expansion in the region, accusing Wagner of participating in the execution of hundreds of people by the Malian military last year.
The UN report in early May did not mention Wagner, but said foreign gunmen were involved in the execution of at least 500 people during an operation against jihadist rebels in the Moura region of Mali in March 2022. A United Nations expert in January he accused Wagner of involvement.
On May 24, the US State Department also blacklisted two Malian military officers, Colonel Moustaph Sangare and Major Lassine Togola, accusing them of being responsible for the incident in Moura.
Mali is a West African country bordering Algeria, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Senegal, with an area of over 1.2 million square kilometers and a population of over 21 million. One of Mali’s most prominent natural resources is gold, 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 the 2020 coup that led to the establishment of a military junta in the West African country. Last year, France withdrew its troops from Mali after the junta failed to hold elections as planned.
Wagner was founded in 2014 and has about 8,000 employees as of April 2022. Western intelligence considers Wagner’s contractors “Russian mercenaries”, saying they fought in many hot spots in Africa and the Middle East.
The Wagner Group has a growing presence in Africa, deploying combat forces in the Central African Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso. The appearance of Wagner gunmen was one of the reasons why the French army had to withdraw its forces from the three countries. Pierre Schil, commander of the French army, commented in March that the Wagner fighters are a formidable force, willing to pay a high price to achieve their goals.
Hong Hanh (according to AFP)
