After the Death of Wagner Leader... Russia Promises to Continue Supporting Mali

Russia pledged before the United Nations on Monday to continue providing "comprehensive assistance" to Mali, where approximately a thousand fighters from the Russian private military group Wagner are located, in response to a rebellion led by Islamists. Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, stated that the bilateral cooperation between Russia and Mali and the "sovereign choice" expressed by the military council regarding its international security partners are "seriously concerning to our former Western partners." He added before the Security Council, "Russia will continue to provide comprehensive assistance to Mali and other African partners who show interest, on a bilateral basis and on the foundations of equality and mutual respect." The 15-member council voted in June to end the decade-long peacekeeping mission in Mali after the military council suddenly requested the UN force to leave the country, a move that the United States claimed was orchestrated by the Wagner group. Mali is struggling to eliminate an Islamist rebellion that has taken hold following an uprising in 2012. The military council in Mali, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, partnered with the Wagner group in 2021.