While France withdrew its troops from Mali in August and the EU’s training missions in Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR) have been reduced, Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová said on Tuesday 30 August in Prague that it was necessary to keep European soldiers in the Sahel so as not to leave a space for the Russians.
At the press conference following the informal meeting of defence ministers in Prague (see EUROPE 13010/1), Ms Černochová explained that the situation in Africa and the European missions there had been mentioned many times during a discussion on the overall consequences of Russian aggression in Ukraine.
“Putin’s Wagner Group soldiers have been active in the Sahel for a long time. We must remain active in this area, we must not leave. On the contrary, we must try to stabilise the situation”, she argued.
According to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, Russia is increasing its negative influence, via the Wagner Group, in Mali and the CAR. “This has led to abuses in terms of human rights violations, exploitation of natural resources and other insecurities. Russian mercenaries are a direct threat to the people of these two countries”, he said. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)