It was always a stretch. Emmanuel Macron kept the lines of communication open with Vladimir Putin while Russia's propaganda machine and the mercenaries of Wagner fuelled anti-French sentiment in Africa. But in an interview on the sidelines of a Francophone nations summit in Tunisia, it sounds like the gloves are now off.
Macron’s remarks came ahead of the first anniversary of Mali's junta inviting Wagner to replace the French troops fighting jihadist insurgents. A new report shows that attacks have since increased, along with claims of human rights abuses by the mercenaries.
