Mali's a Daesh hotbed. Mali has been close to Russia politically, culturally, economically, and militarily since the 1960's. Mali's welcomed Russian troops, i

Mali's a Daesh hotbed. Mali has been close to Russia politically, culturally, economically, and militarily since the 1960's. Mali's welcomed Russian troops, including Wagner's, in the wake of the French pulling out. "[The Russian involvement in Mali] signals a major expansion of Russia's military interests in Africa and a strategic setback for the West. The deployment of Russian military contractors signals a profound break with France and the West." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58751423 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58751423 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/un-security-council-ends-peacekeeping-mission-mali-2023-06-30/ https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/un-security-council-end... https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/12/russias-presence-mali-raises-concerns https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/12/russias-presence-mali-r... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali%E2%80%93Russia_relations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali%E2%80%93Russia_relations