Violence soars in Mali in the year after Russians arrive
Associated PressJan 14, 2023
On Saturday, at least ten civilians were killed and more than 60 injured after suspected Islamist extremists detonated car bombs in Sevare in the central Mopti region.
The early morning attack destroyed about 20 buildings near an airport and adjoining military camp, which hosts Malian forces, UN peacekeepers, and Russian Wagner fighters.
The fallout from the Malian government's hostility towards France and its European partners is becoming increasingly apparent. Now that the shadowy Russian Wagner group is active in Mali, the country's security situation is rapidly deteriorating. The Russian troops aren't focused on the people's security but on pursuing Moscow's interests.
The deteriorating security crisis in West Africa is primarily the result of the West's decade-long political and military interference under the guise of fighting terrorism. It's no coincidence that anti-European sentiment is rising, while calls for Russian engagement have recently grown louder. There's hope for the region only when it's no longer possible for the West to pursue its geopolitical interests unchallenged.