Malian Officials Removed from US Sanctions List

The United States has lifted sanctions on three senior Malian officials previously targeted for their connections to Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, according to a Treasury Department notice.

The officials removed from the sanctions list are Defence Minister Sadio Camara and senior military officials Alou Boi Diarra and Adama Bagayoko.

Wagner has largely been disbanded and incorporated into Russia’s Africa Corps. There was no immediate response from the Malian government.

The US State Department said that Nick Checker, the top US envoy to Africa, visited Mali last month to discuss steps for building closer relations.

Malian Officials Removed from US Sanctions List — Mali Defense Minister Sadio Camara, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mali Abdoulaye Diop enter a hall during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, 28 February 2024. MAXIM SHIPENKOV/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Last year, Washington resumed intelligence sharing with Mali to support counterterrorism efforts.

Cameron Hudson, a former US official with experience at the CIA and State Department, said the move is part of broader engagement with Sahel countries, which have major mineral resources.

During the Joe Biden administration, US access to its main spy base in neighboring Niger was lost, and flights for intelligence gathering in the region were restricted.

Author

Jimisayo Opanuga

Jimisayo Opanuga is a web writer in the Digital Department at News Central TV, where she covers African and international stories. Her reporting focuses on social issues, health, justice, and the environment, alongside general-interest news. She is passionate about telling stories that inform the public and give voice to underreported communities.