Bamako: The United States has taken decisive action against three high-ranking officials in the Malian government and military for their alleged involvement in aiding Russia’s Wagner Group’s operations in Mali. The sanctions target Defence Minister Colonel Sadio Camara, Colonel Alou Boi Diarra (Mali’s Chief of Staff of the Air Force), and Lieutenant Colonel Adama Bagayoko (Malian Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff).

Evidence of Malian officials facilitating Wagner Group’s activities

The US Department of the Treasury announced the imposition of sanctions, citing concrete evidence of the Malian officials’ role in enabling the Wagner Group’s malicious activities within the country. These actions have allegedly facilitated the mercenary group’s expansion in Mali over the past two years.

Meanwhile, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E Nelson unveiled the key Malian officials who played a pivotal role in fostering the Wagner Group’s presence in Mali. He highlighted the consequences of their actions, which have left their people vulnerable to the group’s destabilizing activities and human rights abuses while enabling resource exploitation for the Wagner Group’s operations in Ukraine.

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Details of individual involvement in Wagner Group’s expansion

The Defence Minister, Colonel Sadio Camara, was reported to have made multiple trips to Russia in 2021 to solidify an agreement between the Wagner Group and the Malian transition government for the deployment of the mercenary force to Mali. Colonel Alou Boi Diarra, in his previous role as Air Logistics Chief, significantly facilitated the logistical movement of Russian entities in Mali. Together, Camara and Diarra formulated and executed the plan that ultimately brought the Wagner Group into Mali.

US expresses concern over Wagner Group’s destabilizing activities in Africa

In June, the United States expressed its concerns about the Wagner Group’s destabilizing activities in Africa. The mercenary force was also accused of playing a role in engineering the departure of UN peacekeepers from Mali, further exacerbating the region’s instability.

Despite taking action against the Malian officials and their alleged ties to the Wagner Group, the United States assured that it would continue to support the Malian people in their pursuit of peace, prosperity, and democracy. As the largest bilateral donor of development and humanitarian assistance to Mali, Washington remains dedicated to assisting the country in its journey towards stability.