France lashed out at the deal allowing the Russian Wagner group’s mercenaries to enter Mali where nearly 5,000 French troops are deployed
French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian criticised Mali’s plan to recruit Russian mercenaries, saying such a move was "incompatible" with the French military presence in its former colony., the Malian ruling junta is close to reaching an agreement with the Russian private military contractor the Wagner Group for about 1,000 mercenaries to train the Malian military and provide protection for senior officials.
France lashed out at the Malian junta, which took power in May, and started diplomatic negotiations to prevent the deal. France’s relations with its former colony have deteriorated since a coup in August 2020 toppled President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. The arrival of Russian mercenaries in Mali would be a "red line" for Macron, one of the French sources said, adding that Paris could send its troops stationed in the country to neighbouring Niger. The Russian mercenary group Wagner is a shadowy military unit of private fighters that has been linked to the Kremlin's wars in Ukraine, Africa and the Middle East.
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