The mercenaries of the sulphurous Russian paramilitary company Wagner have "
already
" begun to loot Mali but are not seeking to replace France and European countries in the Sahel, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian.
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Wagner, “
these are former Russian soldiers, armed by Russia and accompanied by Russian logistics.
In the Central African Republic, they went to predation by exchanging the security of the authorities for the right to exploit mineral resources with impunity
,” he commented in an interview published by the Sunday Journal (JDD).
“
In Mali, it's the same.
They are already using the country's resources in exchange for the protection of the junta.
They despoil Mali
,” he criticized.
"
Wagner uses the weakness of certain states to establish itself, not to replace the Europeans (in the Sahel, editor's note), and beyond to strengthen the influence of Russia in Africa
", Jean-Marc further affirmed. Yves Le Drian, for whom the objective of the Russian company is "
clearly to ensure the sustainability (... of) power
" of the junta.
The French Minister of Foreign Affairs had already accused Wagner in mid-January of "
supporting
" the junta, which wishes to "
confiscate power
" in Mali, under the guise of anti-jihadist struggle.
A few hundred of these private soldiers are currently in Mali.
Russian instructors have been deployed in recent weeks, including in Timbuktu, according to Malian military officials.
France sought, in vain, to dissuade Bamako from calling upon the services of the paramilitary group.
While Paris had warned that the arrival on Malian territory of Wagner would be "
incompatible
" with the maintenance of its soldiers deployed in Mali, the French discourse seems to have evolved.
Read alsoHow Vladimir Putin pushes his mercenaries in Africa
In his interview with the JDD, the head of French diplomacy remains very cautious about the future of the European force Takuba in this country, while the junta demanded this week the departure from Mali of the Danish contingent, which is a member.
“
We are discussing with our partners to consider the type of response to be given to this new situation.
(...) Our fight against terrorism must continue, but no doubt under other conditions
,” he explained. Asked about a departure from Mali, the minister replied: “
I did not say that
. ".