# Russian foreign minister publicly acknowledged Wagner security activity in Africa

Date: 2022

Russian Foreign Minister [Sergey Lavrov](/people/sergey-lavrov) publicly acknowledged that Wagner provided security services in Mali and referred to private-military activity in other African theatres. The statement weakened earlier denials that the Russian-linked formation was active in Mali.

## Drivers

- Private Military Formation Activity: https://factrail.ai/drivers/private-military-formation-activity

## Sources

- https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/07/24/mali-new-atrocities-malian-army-apparent-wagner-fighters
- https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/05/03/central-african-republic-abuses-russia-linked-forces

## Methodology

https://factrail.ai/methodology

Canonical: https://factrail.ai/facts/lavrov-acknowledges-wagner-mali-car-2022