Photo : Malick Konate,Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Malick Konate,Reuters
IN BRIEF
by Jerry Franklin
Mali: Demonstrators demand to end UN peacekeeping mission
On 26 May, Al Jazeera reported that thousands of protestors gathered in Bamako demanding an end to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MUNISMA) that was established to support foreign and local troops battling the armed groups. The rally was organized by the transitional Prime Minister Chogel Maiga and civil society organizations supporting the transitional military government. Malians blamed the mission for failing to protect the population and for not bringing any results. Malians were dissatisfied with the mission of their disagreements with the Malian military government because of their connection with the Kremlin-linked Wagner Group. (“Mali protesters demand exit of UN peacekeeping mission,” Al Jazeera, 26 May 2023)
Mali: The US sanctions the head of the Wagner Group
On 26 May, BBC reported that the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control(OFAC) imposed sanctions on the head of Wagner Group, Ivan Aleksandrovich Maslov, for supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine. The US accused the Wagner Group of trying to exploit the abundance of arms in Mali. The Treasury Department imposed sanctions by accusing Maslov of acquiring military equipment for the war in Ukraine through the operations of the Wagner Group in Mali. The US Treasury Department stated: “The Wagner Group's presence on the African continent is a destabilizing force for any country that allows for the deployment of the group's resources into their sovereign territory.” (“Wagner: US sanctions boss of mercenary group in Mali,” BBC, 25 May 2023)
Somalia: Russia offers support against terrorism
On 26 May, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov offered assistance to Somalia in its fight against terrorism, after talks with his Somali Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Jama in Moscow. Lavrov stated that Russia would supply military equipment to the Somali army to assist them in their fight against extremists including al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda. The offer highlighted the growing interest of Russia in seeking alliances with regimes in Africa avoided by the West or facing insurgencies and internal challenges to their rule. (“Russia offers support to Somalian army in fight against terrorist groups,” Africanews, 26 May 2023)