The United States has removed sanctions on three senior officials from Mali who were previously penalized for their links to the Russian mercenary group Wagner Group.
The officials taken off the sanctions list include Defense Minister Sadio Camara and military figures Alou Boi Diarra and Adama Bagayoko. Wagner has since been reorganized by Russia into what is now known as the Africa Corps.
There has been no official reaction yet from the Malian government.
Under President Donald Trump, the US appears to be changing its strategy in Africa’s Sahel region. Instead of focusing on whether governments are military-led, Washington is now prioritizing security cooperation and shared interests, especially counterterrorism.
The top US envoy to Africa, Nick Checker, recently visited Mali to discuss rebuilding relations. Last year, the US resumed intelligence sharing with Mali to support efforts against extremist groups.
Analyst Cameron Hudson told Reuters that this move shows the US is trying to re-engage with Sahel countries, which are rich in natural resources like gold and uranium.
Previously, under President Joe Biden, the US lost access to its main regional intelligence base in neighboring Niger, making it harder to monitor terrorist activities.
Overall, the decision signals a shift in US foreign policy — focusing more on security cooperation in the Sahel, even if it means working closely with military governments.
Source: TRT Africa
