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A high-level Malian mission is expected in Nouakchott on Friday, according to a note verbale from the Malian embassy in Mauritania. This visit comes a few days following Mauritania’s accusations once morest the Malian army, accused of “recurring crimes” once morest its nationals. And this following the disappearance of dozens of Mauritanian breeders in Malian territory. Local sources on the Mauritanian side say they were killed by Malian soldiers.
It is a muscular delegation which will go to Nouakchott: made up of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Territorial Administration, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces and the Director of Malian Intelligence.
According to the note, this mission aims to “ strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries “. The Minister of Foreign Affairs therefore requests a meeting with the Mauritanian President, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. This situation is uncomfortable for both parties.
►Also read: Concern in Mauritania over several nationals missing at the Malian border
On the one hand, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani is pressed by his public opinion, very shocked by these security incidents. One sit-in was organized on Tuesday in Nouakchott and human rights associations demand accountability.
On the other hand, Mali under terrorist pressure strongly supports its army. But the country is also under economic sanctions from ECOWAS. However, the Mauritanian border represents one of the last entry points for goods on its territory.
The Malian authorities will therefore have to submit to a difficult balancing act. In a press release published on Wednesday evening, the government spokesperson in any case affirmed that for the time being, “ no evidence implicates the Malian armed forces ” in that case.
This is the third security incident in two months, which strikes Mauritanians in their neighbor. The Malian authorities have announced on Wednesday evening an investigation.
Usually there is normal traffic between the two countries. Mauritania and Mali have always lived in symbiosis, since the first years of independence.
Mohamed Abdellahi Taleb Abeidy Ould Dada, director of the Mauritanian Center for Strategic Studies and Research in Nouakchott
The Fama and Wagner present in the drama zone
For several weeks, this region has been experiencing renewed activity by the Fama, the Malian armed forces, with their Russian partners from the private company Wagner. There are several dozen Wagner fighters to intervene in western Mali, on the Mauritanian border. According to several French security sources, they arrived on March 1, accompanied by Malian soldiers.
French intelligence reports “ raids carried out by the Fama in the region of Nampala, not far from the Mauritanian border, and counted regarding thirty civilian victims. Joint Wagner/Fama operations continue, today causing population displacements.
On the spot, local sources affirm that routes are imposed on the breeders and traders who come and go on both sides of the border. Some speak of checkpoints between Timbuktu and Nara. Measures aimed at to secure ” the border.
As for the renewed violence once morest Mauritanians, “ nothing explains this, analyzes a connoisseur of armed groups in the region. Except that Mali wants to show results, even if it means making mistakes. »
According to our information, during the month of March, two Russian planes from Libya brought in new Wagner fighters, which would be around 1,000 today.
►Also read: Mali to open investigation into accusations of disappearances of Mauritanian nationals
