The USA imposes sanctions against 3 Malian officers for facilitating the deployment and expansion of Wagner’s activities in Mali. The individuals targeted include Colonel Sadio Camara, the current Minister of Defense, as well as Colonel Alou Boi Diarra and Lieutenant Colonel Adama Bagayoko, both of whom hold positions in the Malian Air Force.
On Monday, the United States announced economic sanctions targeting three Malian military officials, including the current Minister of Defense, for “facilitating the deployment and expansion” of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner’s activities in Mali. These sanctions focus on three high-ranking Malian military officers: Colonel Sadio Camara, Minister of Defense, as well as Colonel Alou Boi Diarra and Lieutenant Colonel Adama Bagayoko, both officials in the Malian Air Force.
Washington cited “evidence showing that these Malian officials have contributed to Wagner Group’s malicious activities in Mali.” “Today’s action exposes key Malian officials who have contributed to Wagner Group’s entrenchment in Mali over the past two years,” said Brian Nelson, the Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, as quoted in the statement.
“These officials have made their people vulnerable to Wagner Group’s destabilizing activities and human rights violations while paving the way for the exploitation of their country’s sovereign resources for the benefit of Wagner Group’s operations in Ukraine,” he added. The assets of these three officials in the United States will be frozen, and they are prohibited from conducting transactions with American individuals or companies.
According to Washington, since Wagner Group’s arrival in Mali in December 2021, the number of civilian casualties in the country has increased by 278%, notably due to operations conducted by the Malian Armed Forces alongside Wagner Group members. Economic sanctions had previously been imposed by the United States against Wagner Group in June 2017, and were reiterated last January.
