William Molinié, edited by Solène Leroux
, modified at
5:58 p.m., January 09, 2022
An extraordinary summit on Mali of the economic community of West African States, ECOWAS, is to be held this Sunday in Accra, Ghana. A first meeting since the announcement by the Malian junta of a postponement of the elections, originally scheduled for next February.
This possible five-year extension of the transition in the country does not pass with African countries. The ECOWAS could take new sanctions such as the blockade of borders, or the freezing of Mali’s financial assets. Especially since on the ground, this week, there was a first clash between agents of the Russian private military company Wagner and terrorist groups. This confirms that the mercenaries are deployed militarily in the center of the country. According to information from Europe 1, their number is estimated between 300 and 400. Their headquarters are located on the base 101 of the Malian army north of Bamako airport.
One mercenary killed, two wounded
The mercenaries have arrived in recent weeks by plane in all discretion. They landed at the end of the track, without going through the usual controls, hence the difficulty of identifying them precisely. The place of the clash this week between Russian mercenaries led by the Malian armed forces and terrorist groups is not anecdotal: it happened in the center of the country, near Bandiagara. A mercenary was killed and two others injured after a mine exploded. An attack precisely where the Barkhane force is not engaged.
Because “the Malian junta needs a symbolic victory with Wagner’s mercenaries against the jihadists”, explains a high-ranking official at Europe 1. The Malians therefore avoid for the moment taking the Russians to areas where the French army stalking terrorists. Bamako wants to legitimize the Russian presence in the country. This is also why Wagner deployed to Timbuktu this week. A very strategic decision, because the French troops left the city less than a month ago, after nine years of presence.