Russia has criticized France for opposing the deployment of its mercenaries in Mali.
The Foreign Minister of Russia, Sergei Lavrov, told reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, that France’s reluctance to further engage in Mali was an insult to the government of Mali.
Mali’s transitional government had faced a backlash from European nations over reports that it was hiring mercenaries from the controversial Russian private security firm known as the Wagner Group.
Already, Malian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga, had accused France of abandoning his country following the “unilateral” decision to withdraw troops.