RUSSIA’S USE OF PMCS AS A FOREIGN POLICY INSTRUMENT IN MALI POST 2021

Abstract

Following successive coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali faced a deteriorating security situation, exacerbated by the withdrawal of French troops and UN peacekeepers. The vacuum created has allowed external actors, namely Russia, to exert influence. The Wagner Group, a Russian private military company (PMC), has played a prominent role in Mali since 2021, providing military support and advancing Russian strategic interests. The article examines the legal and operational framework of PMCs, with a focus on Russia, and compares their role in foreign policy to similar entities from the United States and China. Mali’s rich natural resources and strategic location make it a focal point in global power dynamics, while the dependence on PMCs raises critical questions regarding sovereignty, security and exploitation by other foreign powers. By analyzing these issues, the article sheds light on the implications of the private military companies involvement in fragile states and their use as instruments of geopolitical influence.