The US has sanctioned financial officials for their ties to the Wagner group

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The United States has sanctioned three Mali government and military officials, including the defense secretary, for "encouraging the development and expansion" of the Russian Wagner group's activities in Mali.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced in a statement on Monday that it has imposed sanctions on three high-ranking officials of Mali's government and interim military:

Colonel Sadia Kamara, Minister of Defense, and Colonel Al Boy Diarra, Chief of Staff of the Mali Air Force; also said that this development was based on evidence that these financial officials were involved in the nefarious activities of the Wagner group in Mali.

Brian E. "Today's actions expose key financial officials who have been involved in the financial consolidation of the Wagner Group over the past two years," said Nelson, the Treasury Department's assistant secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

He said: "These officials have paved the way for the exploitation of their country's independent resources for the benefit of the Wagner Group's operations in Ukraine, and at the same time, they have made their citizens vulnerable to the Wagner Group's destabilizing activities and human rights violations."

Mali's defense minister, Col. Kamara, has made several trips to Russia in 2021 to sign an agreement between the Wagner group and Mali's interim government to send mercenaries to the West African country.

During his previous duties as an air logistics officer, Colonel Diara made a significant contribution to the logistics movement of Russian companies in Mali.

The statement continued: "Kamala and Diarra jointly developed and implemented a plan to eventually bring Wagner Group to Mali.

 Diarra accompanied Kamala on several trips to Russia to finalize the settlement agreement between Wagner Group and the transitional government of Mali."

Lt. Col. Bagayoko serves as a champion for Group Wagner in the Transitional Government of Burkina Faso and works to ensure the deployment of Group Wagner.