The Western diplomatic offensive was not enough to discourage Bamako from resorting to the services of Wagner's militias.
Mali's European partners denounced Thursday, December 23, the deployment of Russian mercenaries from this group close to the Kremlin on Malian territory, in a press release.
"We, international partners determined to support Mali and its people in their efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability and to fight terrorism, strongly condemn the deployment of mercenaries on Malian territory," read the article. document signed by 16 states (France, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, United Kingdom and Sweden).
The latter say they “deeply regret the decision of the Malian transitional authorities to use already limited public funds to pay foreign mercenaries instead of supporting the Malian armed forces and public services for the benefit of the Malian people”.
The statement also called on Russia to "behave in a constructive and responsible manner in the region", stressing the support given by Moscow to the Russian paramilitary group: "We are aware of the involvement of the government of the Russian Federation in the provision of 'material support for the deployment of the Wagner group in Mali and call on Russia to behave responsibly and constructively in the region. "
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