BRUSSELS, 16 November 2021, (TON): France's foreign minister said “the European Union agreed to draft a list of possible sanctions on Russian mercenaries who could be deployed to West Africa's Sahel region.”

Reuters reported in September that Mali's military junta was in discussions about deploying Russia's Wagner Group in Mali, which France says is not acceptable because it has its own troops in the region.

Jean-Yves Le Drian told reporters "there's a common will to decide a legal framework for sanctions that will be put on the Wagner Group.”

In order to avoid a lengthy legal procedure, any such sanctions will likely be within existing EU sanctions rules. Diplomats supportive of the French calls told Reuters on Friday that it would take some time to gather evidence so that the asset freezes and travel bans would not be overturned in court.

Le Drian said any sanctions would also be imposed on companies working with the Wagner Group.

French officials say the junta is turning to Wagner as part of efforts to cling to power beyond a transition period due to end after the Feb. 27 presidential and legislative elections.