Wagner in Mali: what future for Operation Barkhane?

A disturbing presence. France officially recognized Thursday evening that Russian mercenaries from the Wagner agency were well deployed in Mali, after the revelations of Europe 1. The French intelligence services have provided several documents which prove the activism of the Russians to destabilize France in this Sahel country. A possible deployment throughout the area which worries the allies of France present in this area of ​​Africa, and which is accelerating considerably.

Dozens or even hundreds of arrivals of mercenaries

Within the airport of the capital of Mali, Bamako, an emergency camp has been set up in recent days, according to a government source. It is about a military camp placed under the responsibility of executives of the Wagner group. Large quantities of food have just been delivered there, which, according to several well-informed sources, foreshadows the arrival of tens or even hundreds of Wagner men.

All this is facilitated by Russian military logistics since in the air, the movements have also been spotted. According to information from Europe 1, the rotations of military planes between Russia, Libya and Bamako have accelerated.

French intelligence has also established that Russian geologists linked to the private company Wagner are surveying the desert to map the country’s gold mines. This is the usual technique of the group. When they settle in a country, it is a security service against exploitation of resources to serve Moscow’s economic interests.

The question of the withdrawal of French troops from Mali

The red line has been crossed for France, but basically that shouldn’t change a lot. The statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that France notes the deployment of Wagner in Mali. Paris strongly condemns it, but brings no concrete or precise solution except that all the diplomatic effort must go in one direction: to force the junta in power to respect its commitments. This means holding elections next February to give power back to civilians.

In the meantime, this poses a key question: what should Operation Barkhane forces do when they come face to face with Russian mercenaries stalking jihadists in the desert? This is also why, still according to information from Europe 1, President Emmanuel Macron privately says he is ready to accelerate the process of troop withdrawal.

This poses the risk of leaving a boulevard to the Russians and giving satisfaction to the putchist colonel Assimi Goita. He is waiting for one thing, for France to announce a departure from Mali to endorse the status of victim and establish its legitimacy by agitating anti-French speeches.