this post was submitted on 19 Jun 2025
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[–] barsoap@lemm.ee 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

And... where's the revolt? Did you read your source? Did you even check the date? What it said about the opinion of the Mali military?

As said: The French left once uninvited by the government. Who are Putschists but meh that's usual down there, and not likely to change without a prolonged period of stability. I do expect another Putsch to come in soonish as they're not getting things handled either, as said Wagner is often worse than the Jihadis, and on top of that Russia is way overextended as it is. Won't take long until they can't supply their goons down there.

Did you, btw, read up on Russia's media campaign down there. The French are arrogant, no doubt, but that's different from wanting to rule the area or wishing it ill. What you can legitimately blame them for is a disinterest in building up those states, training their militaries, enable them to secure their own territory on their own. Russia saw an opening for its actually colonial ambitions and went for it.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The French are arrogant, no doubt, but that’s different from wanting to rule the area or wishing it ill.

Explain it to the 2700+ dead that the French are responsible for.

[–] barsoap@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Don't be a Jihadi? Don't try to force your way onto others trying to establish a Caliphate? Are you seriously taking the side of Al fucking Qaeda here.

How do you explain Wagner's actions to the survivors of Moura. "Don't be a civilian?"

Detainees were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment during questioning, and dozens of women and girls were raped or subjected to other forms of sexual violence, the report claims. In one instance, soldiers brought bedding from a house, placed it under trees in the garden, and took turns raping women they had forced there.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg, most of the atrocities don't get investigated at all due to the fucked-up overall situation. It's all Wagner MO though.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Don’t be a Jihadi?

There it is. Everyone's guilty once you've flung shrapnel through their chest.

But you still can't imagine why the French-aligned government got ousted in a coup on these terms.

[–] barsoap@lemm.ee 1 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

What were the residents of Moura guilty of? Answer.

Jihadis came in, enforced their perverse interpretation of Islam, Sharia courts, dress codes, the lot. Then Wagner+Mali army came, first stomped the Jihadis, then Wagner moved on to rape the locals. Mali army looked on for a while, then stepped in and said "Ok Russians, that's enough, stop it", and it stopped.

That doesn't happen with French forces, you don't have to tell French forces to stop torturing and raping the local civilians, and they also won't tell you that it's a valuable strategy of war. And that's why there's going to be another putsch because as fucked-up as the Mali military is they're not inherently cruel. They just have no idea of how to achieve stability, and were dissatisfied by the progress of the French -- but seeing the Russians, yep, the French are very much preferable. Or ask Nigeria for help instead. China if you can convince them, that'd certainly be interesting. Anyone, but not Russia.

Because you know what? You don't win the hearts and minds of the people if your reputation is even worse than that of the Jihadis. Say what you want about Al Qaeda but they're not as bad as ISIS or Wagner, they do have a sense of decency. A very twisted one, but it exists.