The United States, France and other partners of Mali in the serious crisis that the country has been going through since 2012 say that the junta that came to power by force in 2020 has appealed in recent months to this private group engaged in different countries. sub-Saharan Africa, but also in Syria or Libya. They see in the presence of this group suspected of abuses an additional factor of instability.
The junta persists in denying it.
General Townsend insisted Thursday during a teleconference: “They (the Malian colonels) continue to deny in public (but) my information is quite clear”, he said speaking of “harmful presence”. “I have reason to believe that the Malian government is disbursing $10 million a month for Wagner’s services,” he said.
“I believe they are going to have to pay in kind in the form of natural resources such as gold and gems, because I don’t see how they are going to be able to pay $10 million a month,” he said. he says.