Bamako, Mali – (African Boulevard News) – The military junta in Mali has called on the United States government to cease promoting disinformation about the country’s army and Wagner Group, a Russian private military contractor. The junta says that the spreading of false information is harming their reputation and that of the armed forces.
The call was made on Sunday by the spokesman of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), Colonel-Major Ismaël Wagué. He accused some Western media outlets, including those in the United States, of deliberately spreading false information to discredit the army and the Wagner Group.
“We request that those who are knowingly spreading false information and propaganda to cease harming the reputation of the army and that of the Wagner Group,” said Wagué in a press statement.
The CNSP spokesman, however, did not provide any evidence to back up his claims. An analyst, speaking to African Boulevard News on condition of anonymity, said that the junta was likely concerned that the allegations against the army and Wagner Group might jeopardize their relationship with Russia.
The partnership began last year when Mali sought assistance from Moscow to combat jihadist militants in the country’s northern regions. The Wagner Group, which has been accused of human rights abuses and war crimes in other African countries, is working alongside the Malian army in the fight against terrorism.
While the junta continues to deny any wrongdoing, some Malian activists have expressed concern about the country’s alliance with the Wagner Group. They accuse the Russian mercenaries of perpetrating atrocities against civilians in other countries, including Central African Republic and Libya.
In conclusion, the request of the Malian junta to the United States government to stop spreading false information about the army and the Wagner Group has sparked concerns about the true intentions of the partnership between Mali and Russia. The Malian authorities must provide clear and convincing evidence to back up their claims to avoid further speculation. Meanwhile, the world is watching to see how the situation in Mali unfolds in the coming days.
