Malian Refugees in Mauritania Hope for Russian Departure

Malian refugees living in Mauritania say they will only return home when Russian Wagner Group mercenaries leave their country. The refugees have linked their potential repatriation to the departure of the Wagner forces, indicating the mercenary group's presence is a significant factor preventing displaced Malians from returning to their homeland. Wagner Group, a Russian private military company, has been operating in Mali as part of Moscow's expanding influence across Africa's Sahel region, where it provides security services to local governments while pursuing Russian geopolitical and economic interests.