France criticizes an agreement to bring Russian mercenaries to Mali

PARIS, Sept. 14 (Reuters) – France’s foreign minister on Tuesday criticized plans to bring Russian mercenaries to Mali, saying the move was “incompatible” with the French military presence in its former colony.

Diplomatic and security sources have told Reuters that there is an agreement between the Wagner Group’s Russian private military contractor and Mali’s governing board for the mercenaries to train the Malian military and provide protection to senior officials.

Asked by lawmakers about the report, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said: “Wagner is a militia that has been shown in the past in Syria and the Central African Republic for abuses and all sorts. of violations that do not correspond to any solution and is therefore incompatible with our presence. “

“I’m saying this for you to hear,” he said.

Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said in a separate hearing she was “extremely concerned” about the deal.

Sources told Reuters that Paris has launched a diplomatic push to prevent the junta – which took power with the coup in May – from approving the deal. Paris would consider withdrawing from Mali if the deal goes ahead, they said.

France worries that the arrival of Russian mercenaries undermines its ten-year-old anti-terrorist operation against al-Qaeda-linked insurgents and the Islamic State in the Sahel region of West Africa just as it begins to shrink its 5,000-strong mission to reform it with more European allies, diplomatic sources said.

President Emmanuel Macron announced these plans in July. France has hailed some successes against militants in recent months, but the situation is extremely fragile, exacerbated by the turmoil in Mali after the coup.

A European source monitoring West Africa and a security source in the region said at least 1,000 mercenaries could participate in the Wagner group deal. Two other sources believed the number was smaller, but did not provide figures.

Four sources said the Wagner Group would be paid about 6 billion CFA francs ($ 11 million) a month for its services. Reuters was unable to reach the Wagner group for comment

John Irish Reports; Edited by Angus MacSwan

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