Identical sources reported to Agence France-Presse that a group of fighters of the Russian "Wagner" company arrived, yesterday, Wednesday, at the military base that the Malian army received from the French forces in Menaka, northeastern Mali.
Two well-informed French sources said that "dozens of Russian paramilitary forces arrived on Wednesday in Menaka."
A local source added to Agence France-Presse that he saw "dozens of Russians" at the military base that the French army had returned to the Malians.
Before leaving the Menaka base last Monday, a step that represents the penultimate stage of the final departure of the French forces (Barkhane) from the country, the French army warned that it would be "very vigilant regarding media attacks."
The French Chief of Staff confirmed that the departure of Menaka, last Monday, took place in an orderly, safe and transparent manner against the background of the French forces being subjected to regular media attacks aimed at discrediting its reputation and credibility, she said.
In the wake of the previous operation to hand over a French base last April in Gossy, the French General Staff broadcast videos taken by a drone near it that showed paramilitary forces from the Russian Wagner Group burying the bodies, accusing France of war crimes.
On the other hand, the Malian army announced the discovery of a mass grave near the French base, stressing that the bodies were found in a state of advanced decomposition;
Which indicates that "the mass grave existed long before the handover of (al-Qaeda)".
Many extremist organizations are active in the African Sahel, including the branch of Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb, which from time to time launches attacks targeting military barracks and foreigners in the Sahel countries, especially in Mali.
France launched “Operation Barkhane” in Mali since 2014 with the aim of eliminating armed groups in the African Sahel countries (Chad, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania) and limiting their influence.
On May 2, Mali canceled defense agreements signed with France and its European partners, denouncing what it described as "flagrant violations" by French forces in the country of national sovereignty, and their "many violations" of Mali's airspace.