Russian mercenaries in Mali would be ‘unacceptable’: French defence minister

French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly granted an interview to FRANCE 24 and RFI in Dakar, Senegal. Parly slammed a « disinformation campaign » aimed at creating « anti-French discourse » in Africa’s Sahel region, as France reorganises its military presence there. The minister said she did not believe Russian Wagner Group mercenaries were in the Malian capital Bamako, but added that « that does not mean the current Malian authorities are not planning to bring them there ». The arrival of Russian mercenaries in Mali would be « simply unacceptable », she said.