German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Wednesday in Bamako that the Europeans couldn't cooperate with Malian forces as long as they worked with the Russians. The Malian representatives responded.
After a meeting with the head of the Malian transitional government, Colonel Assimi Goïta, Ms. Baerbock expressed to journalists the fear of "massive war crimes" against the Malian civilian population, following a "pattern" observed according to her on the part of Russian forces in Syria or Ukraine.
Her Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop asked in her presence to beware of any "amalgam" and affirmed the need to respect the choices of his country.
"Mali wishes to work with all its partners, including Germany, Russia, China and the United States," he said.
Baerbock cited the decision announced Monday by the European Union "to stop" its army and national guard training missions in Mali. Some 300 German soldiers participate in the European Union Training Mission (EUTM).
"We cannot continue cooperation without demarcation from the Russian forces," she said, referring to an "urgent appeal" she had made to her interlocutors to that effect. Russian President Vladimir "Putin is waging a serious war of aggression against Ukraine, contradicting human rights."
"We must not confuse things," replied Mr. Diop. "Mali is not involved in relation to what is happening" in Ukraine, "but I think we should not make too much of an amalgam at this level: the situation of Mali is the situation of Mali and we hope that each partner of Mali also respects the choices of Mali," he insisted.
Mali plunged in a deep security crisis despite the support of foreign forces. Governed since 2020 by military that came to power by force, it turned away from France and its European partners in recent months and chose Russia to cooperate with.
The French and Europeans have denounced Bamako's alleged use of the services of the controversial Russian private security company Wagner. The junta denies this and speaks of state-to-state cooperation with Russia.
"Mali does not have a private security company as is alleged here and there. Mali has state-to-state cooperation with Russia," Diop repeated.
Other countries and organizations are also puttin their pressure on Mali. We have described it in the articles: here and here.
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