United Nations sanctions against Mali are set to expire on Thursday, August 31, as a result of Russia’s veto against renewing the sanctions regime that targeted those violating a 2015 peace agreement, obstructing aid distribution, engaging in human rights violations, and recruiting child soldiers.

Recent reports from independent UN sanctions monitors have exposed disturbing practices in Mali, including the use of violence against women and other grave human rights abuses by the country’s troops and foreign security partners, believed to be Russia’s Wagner mercenary group.

In previous instances, the UN Security Council, where Russia holds membership, had extended sanctions on Mali and maintained independent oversight.

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Despite 13 Security Council members supporting a resolution to prolong UN sanctions and independent monitoring for another year, Russia exercised a veto, with China abstaining from the vote.

In contrast, Russia proposed prolonging UN sanctions in Mali for one final year while immediately ending the independent monitoring, receiving only its own vote in favor, a negative vote from Japan, and 13 abstentions.

Deputy US Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, criticized Russia’s stance, suggesting that Russia aimed to silence revelations about Wagner’s actions in Mali.

Russia’s Deputy UN Ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, denied these allegations, stating that Russia was upholding the interests of Mali.

Wagner, with approximately 1,000 fighters stationed in Mali, has been accused by the US of influencing Mali’s junta to demand the departure of a 13,000-strong UN peacekeeping force, scheduled to conclude by December.

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Mali’s junta, which took control through coups in 2020 and 2021, collaborated with Wagner to combat an Islamist insurgency.

The recent death of Wagner’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a Russian plane crash led to the order for Wagner fighters to pledge allegiance to the Russian state.

In response, Mali’s military junta requested the Security Council to lift the sanctions earlier this month.