MÜNSTER, Germany, November 4 (Reuters) – G7 foreign ministers in a joint statement on Friday condemned the actions of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner in Mali and the rest of Africa, accusing the reputed body close to the Kremlin of violations human rights.
Representatives of the United States, France, Japan, Germany, Canada, Great Britain and Italy met Thursday and Friday in Münster, Germany, to discuss the major international issues of the moment. Germany currently holds the rotating presidency of the G7.
“We are horrified by the human rights violations and abuses against civilian populations, including those committed by the forces of the Russian group Wagner in Mali”, underline the ministers in a joint statement made public at the end of the meeting.
The United States accuses Wagner’s mercenaries of exploiting the mineral resources of Mali, Sudan and the Central African Republic, in particular, to help Russia finance its military operations in Ukraine, an allegation dismissed by Moscow as “rage Russophobe”. (Report Sarah Marsh, Sabine Siebold, Andreas Rinke, French version Sophie Louet)
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