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FRANCE MALI RUSSIA

Macron and Putin play game of bluff over Wagner in Mali

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AFRICA

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

Russia's influence on the continent is spreading in step with rising instability in many African countries and tensions between France and many of its former colonies. This trend is bolstered by the presence of the Russian private military contractor Wagner Group close to Vladimir Putin. Its mercenaries have intervened in Libya and Mozambique and are now offering their services in West and Central Africa. Driven by the Kremlin, Russia's security breakthrough in Africa is also backed by the defence ministry, serving Moscow's geopolitical interests, and paving the way for Russia to move into other fields on the continent. [...]

Emmanuel Macron receives Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, at the Palace of Versailles. © Julien Mattia/Le Pictorium/MaxPPP

As negotiations between the Malian junta and Wagner step up a notch, Paris is making last-ditch efforts to prevent the arrival of Russian paramilitaries in Bamako. Emmanuel Macron gave Vladimir Putin a stern warning during a phone call last month. The EU has meanwhile followed France's lead and suspended budgetary support to Mali. [...] (780 words)

Published on 03/11/2021 at 05:00 GMT Reading time 4 minutes

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Diplomacy

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MALI
Angela Merkel
Barkhane
Choguel Kokalla Maiga
Christophe Bigot
Economic Community of West African States
Emmanuel Macron
European Union
Khalifa Haftar
Malian Armed Forces
Mikhail Bogdanov
Reuters
Takuba
United Nations
Vladimir Putin
Wagner
West African Economic and Monetary Union

Paris switches tack on information warfare against Russia

France is preparing to implement a new information warfare tool in Africa to counter Moscow's influence. This involves the creation of a task force within the foreign ministry and another within the ministry of armed forces, but also the use of private providers.

GUINEA Diplomacy 18/05/2022

French foreign office Africa director met Mamadi Doumbouya in discreet tête à tête

The head of the Guinean transition, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, met very inconspicuously on 12 May with Christophe Bigot, Director of Africa and the Indian Ocean at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

FRANCE MALI Diplomacy 08/04/2022

Malian officers in France survive Paris-Bamako military divorce

A handful of Malian officers are still being trained in France despite the fact that all military cooperation between the two countries has been frozen.

MOZAMBIQUE Diplomacy 04/02/2022

Nyusi no longer stonewalling Russia

After nearly two years of diplomatic silence, the Mozambican administration is responding to Russia's discreet overtures.

EUROPEAN UNION MALI Diplomacy 21/01/2022

As Wagner arrives, EU prepares sanctions but keeps channels open with junta

Following the lead of ECOWAS, the EU is gearing up to impose sanctions on the regime in Bamako, which has postponed the presidential election and welcomed Russian paramilitaries from Wagner onto Malian soil. The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell is due to hold a virtual meeting with the foreign ministers of the G5 Sahel countries on 26 January to discuss the situation in Mali.

The Malian file was also raised during the gathering of the 27 European defence ministers in Brest on 12 and 13 January

Spotlight

MALI Diplomacy 22/12/2021

Wagner and junta close to deal to deploy 500 paramilitaries across Mali

The Malian junta and the Russian paramilitary company Wagner are close to an agreement that would provide for the deployment of 500 men in about ten localities. France, bitterly opposed to the arrival of Russian mercenaries, is due to hold a defence council on Mali at the Elysée on 22 December.

FRANCE MALI Diplomacy 17/12/2021

Emmanuel Macron cancels visit to Bamako

Breaking news published on 17/12/21 at 18:00 - The French president has cancelled his trip to Mali on 20 to 21 December, in part due to the Covid-19 pandemic but mainly because both Paris and Bamako could not agree on what form the visit should take.

MALI Defence Business 13/12/2021

Assimi Goita presents his army with a mixed bag of armoured vehicles from China and Russia

The military junta has just given the Malian army new armoured vehicles of Russian and Chinese origin. But by having many different suppliers, the army is actually running the risk of becoming less effective in its operations against armed groups.

Malian transitional president Assimi Goita

Rwandan Chief of Staff Jean-Bosco Kazura is currently holding a series of meetings with African chiefs of staff (photo from 2013). © UN Mission in Mali/Flickr

Inner circles

AFRICA RWANDA Defence Diplomacy 10/12/2021

How Kigali is exporting its military expertise across Africa

By participating in Mozambican operations, the Rwandan army, already busy in the Central African Republic and South Sudan, has become one of Kigali's key exports. President Paul Kagame relies on a structure geared to external operations, and on allies beyond Africa.

ALGERIA FRANCE SAHEL Diplomacy 07/12/2021

Macron and Tebboune quietly mend their fences

The French president spoke at length with his Algerian counterpart in late November. The two leaders agreed to gradually ease the tensions between them over the next few months. Meanwhile Paris and Algiers have resumed discussions of the Sahel.

MALI Diplomacy 23/11/2021

Mahamat Déby flies to Bamako on mission to stop Wagner

Chad's interim leader, who is also the current head of the G5 Sahel of which Mali is a member, is expected in Bamako by the end of the month. He hopes to dissuade coup leader Assimi Goita and the Malian junta from hiring the Russian paramilitary company Wagner.

MALI Defence Diplomacy 16/11/2021

Bamako recovers its sole troop transport aircraft from Airbus

The Malian government, which has been without the means to airlift its troops into northern Mali for more than a year, earlier this month recovered its Airbus Casa C295 transport aircaft, which has been out of action for a year for maintenance.

SAHEL SPAIN Defence Diplomacy 11/11/2021

Madrid continues to equip Malian gendarmes despite tensions over Wagner

Although EU relations with Mali have been strained by the junta's decision to cosy up to Moscow, Madrid is going ahead with its programme to equip gendarmes in Mali and elsewhere in the Sahel.

EUROPEAN UNION FRANCE MALI Diplomacy 18/10/2021

Paris secretly prepared to slap sanctions on military junta

As relations between Bamako and Paris continue to sour, France wants the EU to slap sanctions on several Malian officials seen to be rocking the boat ahead of next year's presidential poll. Meanwhile, ECOWAS is considering similar punitive measures.

MALI Defence Diplomacy 06/10/2021

From Washington to Algiers, Paris manoeuvres behind the scenes to keep Wagner out of Mali

Discreetly but insistently, France is working with its Western and African partners to prevent the junta going into partnership with Russian paramilitary group Wagner. Meanwhile, ECOWAS, egged on by Macron, is considering slapping sanctions on Mali's new leaders.

French foreign minister Yves Le Drian at the UN General Assembly on 23 September.

FRANCE SAHEL Diplomacy 24/06/2021

Paris prepares for end of Operation Barkhane via UN, EU and G5 Sahel

Following President Macron's announcement on 10 June of France's plans to end Operation Barkhane, the French presidency is trying to mobilise its partners regarding the situation in the Sahel. French diplomats have begun a major operation to persuade the European Union, the UN and the African Union to get more involved in the region, with a Sahel Coalition summit coming up in July and France due to take the chair of the UN Security Council on 1 July.

FRANCE SAHEL Politics 13/10/2020

As presidential election nears, Macron worries of risk of politicising Operation Barkhane

With just over a year to go before the presidential election, and in light of the events of recent weeks, the French public is starting to take more notice of the country's military presence in the Sahel region.

French President Emmanuel Macron (C) and Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (C-R) visit the troops of France's Barkhane counter-terrorism operation in Sahel region in Gao, northern Mali, 19 May 2017.

Set up email notifications for these topics

MALI
Angela Merkel
Barkhane
Choguel Kokalla Maiga
Christophe Bigot
Economic Community of West African States
Emmanuel Macron
European Union
Khalifa Haftar
Malian Armed Forces
Mikhail Bogdanov
Reuters
Takuba
United Nations
Vladimir Putin
Wagner
West African Economic and Monetary Union

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Macron and Putin play game of bluff over Wagner in Mali

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 12.50)

2 options offered to continue reading

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Paris switches tack on information warfare against Russia

French foreign office Africa director met Mamadi Doumbouya in discreet tête à tête

Malian officers in France survive Paris-Bamako military divorce

Nyusi no longer stonewalling Russia

As Wagner arrives, EU prepares sanctions but keeps channels open with junta

Wagner and junta close to deal to deploy 500 paramilitaries across Mali

Emmanuel Macron cancels visit to Bamako

Assimi Goita presents his army with a mixed bag of armoured vehicles from China and Russia

How Kigali is exporting its military expertise across Africa

Macron and Tebboune quietly mend their fences

Mahamat Déby flies to Bamako on mission to stop Wagner

Bamako recovers its sole troop transport aircraft from Airbus

Madrid continues to equip Malian gendarmes despite tensions over Wagner

Paris secretly prepared to slap sanctions on military junta

From Washington to Algiers, Paris manoeuvres behind the scenes to keep Wagner out of Mali

Paris prepares for end of Operation Barkhane via UN, EU and G5 Sahel

As presidential election nears, Macron worries of risk of politicising Operation Barkhane

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Macron and Putin play game of bluff over Wagner in Mali

Security, Moscow's way into Africa

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 12.50)

2 options offered to continue reading

Create your free account

create a free account

Set up email notifications for these topics

Paris switches tack on information warfare against Russia

French foreign office Africa director met Mamadi Doumbouya in discreet tête à tête

Malian officers in France survive Paris-Bamako military divorce

Nyusi no longer stonewalling Russia

As Wagner arrives, EU prepares sanctions but keeps channels open with junta

Wagner and junta close to deal to deploy 500 paramilitaries across Mali

Emmanuel Macron cancels visit to Bamako

Assimi Goita presents his army with a mixed bag of armoured vehicles from China and Russia

How Kigali is exporting its military expertise across Africa

Macron and Tebboune quietly mend their fences

Mahamat Déby flies to Bamako on mission to stop Wagner

Bamako recovers its sole troop transport aircraft from Airbus

Madrid continues to equip Malian gendarmes despite tensions over Wagner

Paris secretly prepared to slap sanctions on military junta

From Washington to Algiers, Paris manoeuvres behind the scenes to keep Wagner out of Mali

Paris prepares for end of Operation Barkhane via UN, EU and G5 Sahel

As presidential election nears, Macron worries of risk of politicising Operation Barkhane

Set up email notifications for these topics

First visit

Contacts

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A website produced by

Indigo Publications also publishes: