Mali Praises US Decision to Lift Sanctions on Key Officials

The US decision to lift sanctions on several key officials from Mali clears a key hurdle the West African country had set for improving ties with Washington, a Malian government spokesman said.

The US Treasury Department had sanctioned three officials, including Defense Minister Sadio Camara, over alleged ties to the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group, but on Friday posted a notice lifting those penalties. The Russian private military company had expanded Moscow’s influence in West Africa’s Sahel region after Mali’s 2021 coup.