United States worries about possible deployment of "Russian mercenaries" in Mali

The American Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, expressed her "

" about a possible deployment in Mali of the sulphurous Russian private security group Wagner with which the authorities in Bamako are in discussions, in a press release. received Tuesday.

"

" she said. following an interview with Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum.

Read also The Wagner group replaces the authority of the State in the Central African Republic, according to Paris

Linda Thomas-Greenfield was part of a UN Security Council delegation that visited Bamako on Saturday and Sunday to pressure the military-dominated authorities for a reestablishment of civilian power after two putschs in nine months in this country.

The delegation then traveled to neighboring Niger.

Criticizing "

", guilty according to her of "

", the American ambassador considered that their presence "

".

To read also In Mali, "Wagner against Sisyphus"

The Wagner group, with which the Russian authorities deny any link, provides maintenance services for military equipment and training but it is accused, in particular by France, of being remunerated from the resources of the host countries and of serving the interests of the Kremlin.

The presence of Wagner's paramilitaries has been reported in several African countries, notably in the Central African Republic and Libya, but also in Syria.

Several European countries, France and Germany in the lead, have warned that an agreement between Bamako and Wagner would call into question their military presence in Mali.