UN mission in Mali: Russian mercenaries could endanger UN operations

In Mali, the military junta is negotiating the use of Russian mercenaries – the “Wagner Group” is considered a shadow army with good contacts to Putin. France and Germany question their participation in the UN mission.

Russian flags – on demonstrations in Mali. That has been seen again and again in the recent past. The military presence of the ex-colonial power France became increasingly unpopular in view of the worsening security situation in the country. Now the Malian military junta is said to be in talks with the so-called Wagner group. 1000 Russian mercenaries are to be brought to Mali with a nine million euro contract. To train the Malian army, to protect high-ranking military personnel.

On Wednesday, Federal Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer tweeted: “If the cooperation of #Mali with Russian mercenary groups is confirmed, that calls into question the basis of the mandate of the #Bundeswehr for #MINUSMA and #EUTM and we would have to draw conclusions together with the Bundestag. If Mali’s government makes such agreements with Russia, it contradicts everything that Germany, France, the #EU and the #UN have been doing in Mali for 8 years. “

The day before, the ex-colonial power France, which has a strong military presence in Mali, threatened to withdraw and warned against the Russian mercenaries. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said: “In the past, especially in Syria, in the Central African Republic, you have distinguished yourself with extortion, raids and violations of all kinds – and there is no solution. In the Central African Republic there is one Worsening of the security situation. “

Private security company with good contact with Putin

The “Wagner Group” around which the discussion revolves is a private Russian security and military company. It is considered a shadow army, where Russia does not want to appear officially as an actor. The businessman who owns the “Wagner Group” is said to be in close contact with Vladimir Putin and the Russian military.

In Mali itself, the news is not bad, this resident of the capital Bamako tells the French television station TV5 Monde: “We see the army losing ground every day. The life of the Malians is worth more to me. Even the Russians are already who brought happiness to Syria and Central Africa. So we welcome these Russian soldiers, we ask. We will cheer them. “

Terror spreads – despite international deployments

The international military engagement in Mali has been discussed for a long time. Mali is considered a key state in the fight against terror in West Africa. The long-term UN stabilization mission MINUSMA and the EU training mission EUTM, in which the Bundeswehr is also involved, did not produce the desired results. Malian security forces are still considered to be poorly trained and poorly equipped and are regularly victims of attacks. The terror is spreading across national borders in the region. At the same time, elite military units struck twice within just nine months – the crisis state also remains politically unstable.

The French recently announced that they would disband their counter-terrorism unit, Barkhane, and close down military bases in the Sahel. If the deal between Mali and the Russian mercenaries comes off, it will also show how new powers are gaining influence in Africa, say security analysts such as Boubacar Salif Traoré on French television.

“France is somehow trying to get out of this quagmire. For almost a decade we have seen that there has been no success in relation to these military operations. The interim government is currently under pressure from the population to deliver clearer results. Because the uncertainty has not stopped. “

Russia denies negotiations

This pressure could apparently also have led to negotiations with other partners. Mali’s authorities have confirmed talks with the Russian “Wagner Group”, but no contracts have yet been signed. Russia, on the other hand, has denied negotiations on military engagement.