Russian mercenary presence in Mali alarming – State Department

The US is alarmed by reports saying Russian mercenary troops from the infamous Wagner group could be deployed in Mali to replace the outgoing French troops, the State Department said.

The Moscow-backed group could be deployed in Mali to fight Islamist insurgents in the country. The Wagner group is under sanctions from the US and EU for destabilizing Syria, Ukraine, Libya, and the Central African Republic.

The Wagner group has a history of making countries poorer, more war-torn, and sees sudden resurgences of the IS terrorist groups in the countries it lands inside.

Since the mercenary group would naturally be funded to fight such groups, more violence would mean more money the group earns and sends back to Russia.

If violence suddenly ends, then the Wagner group, like other mercenary groups would no longer have a job.

Although, no official decision has been made, Mali is actively thinking of replacing the UN peacekeepers/French troops with Russian mercenaries.

The US is finding the reports alarming and is warning Mali against any such move that would ultimately put it in harms way and more uncertainty.