Malian Prime Minister, Choguel Kokalla Maïga, has condemned the US sanctions imposed on the defence minister, air force chief of staff, and his deputy.
He dismissed the sanctions as a mere “distraction” and expressed his unwavering support for the junta officials.
“The sanctions against our valiant officers, Defence Minister Col Sadio Camara, Gen Alou Boi Diarra, Col Adama Bagayoko, have no objectives other than to distract the Malian people. Nothing will distract us from the work of rebuilding Mali,” Mr Maïga has tweeted.
The US Treasury imposed sanction on the three for “facilitating” the expansion of Russia’s Wagner Group in Mali.
The Wagner troops, alongside the Malian army, are facing accusations of committing atrocities in their campaign against jihadists. The United States has reported a significant increase in civilian casualties since their deployment in late 2021.
Among the senior officials in the military government, the Malian Prime Minister stands as the only one to have addressed the issue of sanctions.
The response from Mali, so far, has been measured, in contrast to previous instances where government spokesman Col Abdoulaye Maïga delivered strong rhetoric and accusations of plots to destabilize the ruling junta in diplomatic disputes, particularly with France and the UN.