Lavrov Says Russian Government Not Involved in Mali Deal With Private Russian Military Company

Lavrov Says Russian Government Not Involved in Mali Deal With Private Russian Military Company
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after addressing the 76th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, on Sept. 25, 2021. Eduardo Munoz/Pool/Reuters
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UNITED NATIONS—Mali has asked a private Russian military company to help it fight against terrorists, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday at the United Nations.

Mali’s year-old military junta is close to a deal to recruit the Russian private military contractors the Wagner Group, sources have told Reuters, triggering opposition from France, which has said it was “incompatible” with a continued French presence in the West African state.