On Monday, July 24, 2023, in a statement signed by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, the United States announced economic sanctions targeting three Malian military officials, including the current Minister of Defense, Sadio Camara, who also holds French citizenship.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated the Malian Minister of Defense, Colonel Sadio Camara, for “facilitating the deployment and expansion” of activities in Mali by the Russian paramilitary group Wagner. This action was taken under the authority of Presidential Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, for providing significant support, sponsorship, or financial, material, or technological assistance to the designated entity, Wagner Group, or for providing goods or services to or for the benefit of the entity, as outlined in the provisions of E.O. 14024.
Under this Presidential Executive Order, the assets of these three officials in the United States are frozen, and they are prohibited from engaging in transactions with U.S. persons or businesses. The U.S. government claims to possess “evidence that these Malian officials have contributed to Wagner Group’s malign activities” in Mali. “Today’s action exposes key Malian officials who have facilitated Wagner Group’s entrenchment in Mali over the past two years,” stated Brian Nelson, the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, as cited in the press release.
According to information released by the U.S. government, Colonel Sadio Camara, the Minister of Defense, also holds French citizenship. This dual nationality has never been disclosed by the concerned individual.
Screenshot of the information provided by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
