Withdrawal from Mali

Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop officially asks Russia for support at a press conference in Moscow.

Sergei Lavrov was obviously pleased to welcome his counterpart from the fracturing African state in Moscow yesterday. And the latter also dutifully recited his text.

The Malian government continues to count on Moscow’s support. That’s for sure. Officially, the Russian government denies connections with the Wagner Group mercenaries. Nevertheless, it is clear that they would hardly operate in the African country without the blessing of the Russian government.

This should finally seal the withdrawal of Western troops from Mali. Just last week, German Bundeswehr soldiers traveling in the country as part of the UN were fired upon by Malian government troops.

It is still due to the phase of the change of government in Germany that the Bundeswehr has not long since announced its official end of the mission in Mali.