EURACTIV.com with AFP Est. 2min 16-11-2021 A group of NGOs have urged the EU and wider international community to exempt humanitarian aid from sanctions imposed on Mali’s military government, warning that 1.2 million Malians are facing a food crisis. [EPA-EFE/H.DIAKITE] EURACTIV is part of the Trust Project >>> Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram EU foreign ministers agreed Monday (15 November) to draw up more sanctions on shadowy Russian mercenary group Wagner over its involvement in a string of hotspots, the bloc’s foreign policy chief said. The private military outfit, which Western capitals see as closely linked to the Kremlin, has been tied to conflicts in Ukraine, Africa and the Middle East. “There is consensus to move forward in order to take restrictive measures against this group,” Josep Borrell said after a meeting in Brussels. He said the sanction proposals will now be drafted by European Union experts and discussed further when foreign ministers meet again in December. EU member France has been spearheading the moves to target Wagner. Paris fiercely opposes a reported deal between the group and Mali’s military junta to send 1,000 contractors to the jihadist-hit country. Lavrov says Mali asked private Russian military company for help Mali has asked a private Russian military company to help it fight against insurgents, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday (25 September) at the United Nations. Already last year, the EU blacklisted Wagner’s alleged financier Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, over the group’s involvement in Libya. Lithuanian MPs seek EU sanctions against 'Putin's chef' In today’s edition of The Capitals, find out more about the reactions of German leaders to the attacks in Hanau, Hugnary’s deputy whip of governing coalition party KDNP in parliament suggesting that there should be an ‘ECHR-exit’, and so much more. The Kremlin denies it has ties to the mercenary firm. In addition to targeting Wagner, France also pushed EU counterparts to move forward on sanctioning Mali’s military leadership in the wake of their coup. Borrell said foreign ministers agreed to set up a legal framework that would allow Brussels to target those blocking a transition back to civilian rule. The move comes after West African regional group ECOWAS this month slapped individual members of the military junta ruling Mali since the August 2020 seizure of power. Read more with EURACTIV Biden promises candor, Xi greets 'old friend' in US-China talksUS President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping stressed their responsibility to the world to avoid conflict as the heads of the two top global economies gathered for hours of talks on Monday (15 November).
