back to the future 3/9/22 - #Wagner — seen by US as a covert extension of the #Kremlin arrived in #Mali after a 2020 coup d’etat isolated the #WestAfrican country from its democratic partners. As Russia invades #Ukraine, the Kremlin is pushing to amplify influence worldwide, and ostensibly #privatemilitary groups like #Wagner offer a deniable way to advance its goals. Since 2016 Russian #mercenary footprint has grown from 4 to 28 nations. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/09/mali-russia-wagner/