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Jun
26
2023
By The African Mirror
Russian mercenaries return to bases after challenge to Putin’s authority

Russian mercenaries return to bases after challenge to Putin’s authority

WORLD
HEAVILY armed Russian mercenaries withdrew from the southern Russian city of Rostov overnight under a deal that halted their rapid advance on Moscow but raised questions about President Vladimir Putin's grip on power. Ending their mutiny, fighters of the Wagner group headed back to their bases in return for guarantees for their safety. Their commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, will move to Belarus under the deal mediated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested the turmoil in Russia could take months to play out, while Italy's foreign minister said it had shattered the "myth" of Russian unity. Putin…
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Jan
07
2023
By The African Mirror
France-Burkina in diplomatic tiff

France-Burkina in diplomatic tiff

NEWS
JOHN IRISH and TASSILO HUMMEL FRANCE continues to back its envoy in Burkina Faso despite a request by the Burkinabe government to replace him amid growing anti-French sentiment likely fuelled by Russian mercenaries, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said. In December, the Ouagadougou government sent a letter requesting the departure of France's ambassador - a move the French government described as "not standard practice." "I would like to express my support and our support for our ambassador and for all the embassy staff, who are doing a remarkable job in conditions which, as you know, are difficult," Colonna told LCI TV, adding that…
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Apr
07
2022
By The African Mirror
Malian, foreign soldiers allegedly killed hundreds in town siege

Malian, foreign soldiers allegedly killed hundreds in town siege

NEWS
MALIAN troops and suspected Russian fighters allegedly executed around 300 civilian men over five days during a military operation in a central Mali town, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report, which the country's army refused. The killings took place between March 27 and 31 in Moura, a rural town of around 10,000 inhabitants in the Mopti region, a hotspot of extremist activity that has intensified and spread to neighbouring countries in the Sahel region. "The incident is the worst single atrocity reported in Mali's decade-long armed conflict," HRW said. The reported executions sparked condemnation from the United States, the…
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Apr
06
2022
By The African Mirror
Malian and foreign soldiers believed to have killed hundreds in town siege, Human Rights Watch says

Malian and foreign soldiers believed to have killed hundreds in town siege, Human Rights Watch says

NEWS
MALIAN troops and suspected Russian mercenaries allegedly executed around 300 civilian men over five days during a military operation in a central town, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report on Tuesday. The killings took place between March 27 and 31 in Moura, a rural town of around 10,000 inhabitants in the Mopti region, a hotspot of jihadist activity that has intensified and spread to neighbouring countries in the Sahel region. "The incident is the worst single atrocity reported in Mali's decade-long armed conflict," HRW said. The reported executions sparked condemnation from the United States, the European Union, France…
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Sep
30
2021
By The African Mirror
Mercenaries: France warns Mali

Mercenaries: France warns Mali

NEWS
FRANCE has warned Mali that it would lose the support of the international community if it agreed on a deal with Russian mercenaries. Diplomatic and security sources have told Reuters that Mali's year-old military junta is close to recruiting the Russian Wagner Group, and France has launched a diplomatic drive to thwart it, saying such an arrangement is "incompatible" with a continued French presence. "If Mali commits to a partnership with these mercenaries, then Mali will isolate itself and will lose the support of the international community which is heavily engaged in Mali," Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly told lawmakers.…
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Sep
20
2021
By The African Mirror
French minister in Sahel amid talk of Russian hired guns for Mali

French minister in Sahel amid talk of Russian hired guns for Mali

NEWS
FRANCE’S Armed Forces Minister has arrived in Niger as part of a two-day visit to allies in the Sahel region, where French-led military operations against Islamist militants are under threat from Mali's talks with Russian defence contractors. Diplomatic and security sources have told Reuters that Mali's year-old military junta is close to recruiting the Russian Wagner Group, and France has launched a diplomatic drive to thwart it, saying such an arrangement is "incompatible" with a continued French presence. West Africa's main political bloc, ECOWAS, has also expressed concern. But Mali's junta has dug in, noting that France has begun scaling…
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Sep
19
2021
By The African Mirror
‘It’s our right to seek military help from anyone’

‘It’s our right to seek military help from anyone’

NEWS
MALI  has the right to seek military support from whoever it wants, the prime minister said, after France and other foreign powers expressed alarm at a report that Bamako was approaching Russian mercenaries for assistance. Prime Minister Choguel Maiga did not confirm whether the government was in talks with any other party in his comments that were released by a Malian news site, but diplomatic and security sources have told Reuters Mali's government was close to a deal with a private Russian military contractor. The sources said Russia's the Wagner Group would supply mercenaries to train Mali's military and protect…
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Sep
16
2021
By The African Mirror
Germany, France worried about Mali plan for Russian mercenaries

Germany, France worried about Mali plan for Russian mercenaries

NEWS
GERMANY has joined France in expressing concern about an agreement between Mali's military rulers and a Russian security company that would bring Russian mercenaries into the African country. Diplomatic and security sources have told Reuters that mercenaries hired by the Wagner Group would train the Malian military and provide protection for senior officials. The deal is close to being agreed on, they said, "We find this extremely worrying," a German foreign ministry spokesperson said. France's foreign minister on Tuesday criticised the plans, saying such a move was "incompatible" with the French military presence in its former colony. France is worried…
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Sep
14
2021
By The African Mirror
Russian mercenaries to be allowed into Mali

Russian mercenaries to be allowed into Mali

NEWS
JOHN IRISH and DAVID LEWIS A deal is close that would allow Russian mercenaries into Mali, extending Russian influence over security affairs in West Africa and triggering opposition from former colonial power France, seven diplomatic and security sources said. Paris has begun a diplomatic drive to prevent the military junta in Mali enacting the deal, which would permit Russian private military contractors, the Wagner Group, to operate in the former French colony, the sources said. A European source who tracks West Africa and a security source in the region said at least 1,000 mercenaries could be involved. Two other sources…
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