US Lifts Sanctions on Mali Officials to Strengthen Sahel Engagement

The United States has lifted sanctions on three senior Mali officials, including Defense Minister Sadio Camara, over their past ties to Russia’s Wagner Group. The move reflects a shift in US strategy to re-engage with Sahel countries for counterterrorism cooperation and strategic interests, despite their military-led governments.

The United States has lifted sanctions on three senior officials from Mali over their previous ties to Russia’s mercenary organization, the Wagner Group, according to a notice issued by the Treasury Department. The decision marks a notable shift in Washington’s approach toward military-led governments in Africa’s Sahel region.
The officials removed from the sanctions list include Mali’s Defense Minister, Sadio Camara, along with senior military figures Alou Boi Diarra and Adama Bagayoko. They had originally been sanctioned for their alleged links to the Wagner Group, which has since been largely dismantled and absorbed into Russia’s Africa Corps structure. There was no immediate comment from Malian authorities following the announcement.
The move reflects what analysts describe as a recalibration of US strategy under the administration of President Donald Trump. The administration has signaled it is willing to set aside previous concerns about engaging with military juntas in order to focus on strategic and security cooperation, particularly in regions facing persistent extremist threats.
Last month, the top US envoy to Africa, Nick Checker, traveled to Mali to explore ways of strengthening bilateral ties, according to the State Department. The visit followed renewed efforts by Washington to re-establish intelligence-sharing arrangements with Mali aimed at supporting counterterrorism operations in the Sahel.
Observers say the shift is also influenced by geopolitical and economic considerations. The Sahel region is rich in natural resources, including gold and uranium, making it strategically significant. Cameron Hudson, a former US official with experience at the Central Intelligence Agency and the State Department, suggested the policy change forms part of a broader US effort to re-engage countries in the region despite their military leadership. He noted that Washington appears determined not to limit its foreign policy options by disengaging from governments that came to power through coups.
Under the administration of Joe Biden, US influence in the region diminished. Washington lost access to its primary intelligence base in neighboring Niger and was barred from conducting intelligence-gathering flights there. Those restrictions significantly weakened the US capacity to track and respond to militant groups operating across the Sahel.
The latest decision to lift sanctions signals a pragmatic turn in US policy, as Washington seeks to restore its security footprint and counter growing Russian influence in the region.