Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • World
  • Mid-East
  • Europe
  • Americas
  • Asia Pacific
  • Africa
  • Syrian Crisis
  • Islamophobia

Russia gives Mali weapons, ammunition, denies Wagner links

by Daily Sabah with AFP

ANKARA Nov 11, 2021 - 5:32 pm GMT+3
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop in Moscow, Russia, Nov. 11, 2021. (AFP Photo)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop in Moscow, Russia, Nov. 11, 2021. (AFP Photo)
by Daily Sabah with AFP Nov 11, 2021 5:32 pm
RECOMMENDED
Residents of the Belle Souvenir neighborhood try to resume their daily life in their house submerged by water in Sambava, Madagascar, Jan. 21, 2023. (AFP Photo)

30 dead, 20 missing after Madagascar battered by tropical storm

MADAGASCAR

Russia provides Mali with weapons and military equipment to defend the Sahel state's territorial integrity, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday, denying any links to the Wagner mercenary group in the country.

The Kremlin came under scrutiny earlier this year from France and Germany over a reported deal to send 1,000 fighters from the Kremlin-linked Wagner mercenary group to the conflict-ridden state.

"We realize the need to support Mali's ability to combat terrorism," Lavrov said during talks in Moscow with his Malian counterpart, Abdoulaye Diop.

"We provide the country with the necessary equipment, weapons and ammunition. We will do whatever is necessary to prevent threats to Mali's statehood and territorial integrity," Lavrov said.

He said questions over the role of Russian mercenaries in the country should be directed to Malian authorities and that military initiatives established by private Russian citizens were not Moscow's official business.

"Regarding reports on the Malian government's plans to apply for a Russian PMC's (private military contractor's) services... this question is exclusively within the jurisdiction of the legitimate Malian government," Lavrov said.

"If those contracts are concluded with legitimate governments of sovereign states, I don't understand what can be seen as negative about that," he added.

Reports of the Wagner deal came as France is preparing to close bases in Mali where its military has been fighting an extremist insurgency since 2013.

The shadowy military outfit has been linked to conflicts in Ukraine, Africa and the Middle East. It is believed to be close to President Vladimir Putin and has been accused of committing abuses.

Diop said Thursday he had told French officials there was no contract with Wagner but underlined that, "Mali will not allow any state or organization to tell us with whom we have the right to communicate and with whom we do not."

Mali, a poor and landlocked nation home to at least 20 ethnic groups, is battling terrorist attacks and inter-communal violence, which often spills over to neighboring countries.

RECOMMENDED
Residents of the Belle Souvenir neighborhood try to resume their daily life in their house submerged by water in Sambava, Madagascar, Jan. 21, 2023. (AFP Photo)

30 dead, 20 missing after Madagascar battered by tropical storm

MADAGASCAR
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Dec 27, 2021 9:18 am
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    mali russia-mali relations mercenaries wagner
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    A U.S. Air Force airman marshals an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron, at the 86th Air Base near Fetesti, Romania, Feb. 17, 2022. (Reuters Photo)

    Türkiye warns of 'price' if US fails to deliver long-sought fighter jets

    F-16-FIGHTER-JETS
    Tourists visit the courtyard of the Süleymaniye Mosque on a sunny day in Istanbul, Türkiye, January 2023. (EPA Photo)

    Türkiye raises bets as foreign arrivals near record, tourism revenues boom

    tourism-in-Türkiye

    Türkiye inks $200M deal with S.Korean firm for parts of MBT Altay

    altay-tank

    Hungary slams Sweden's 'stupidity' on NATO row with Türkiye

    türkiye-hungary-relations
    No Image
    Cities light up in solidiarity with Ukraine
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021