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Witness cites Mali's security ties with Russia as example of pragmatic alignments
Summary
A witness said Malian armed forces described their security relationship with Russia as driven by immediate needs, using the phrase "if you have mice in your house, does the color of the cat matter?" to explain pragmatic partner choices.
The witness recounted a meeting with representatives of the Malian Armed Forces in which security needs were described as immediate and existential. The speaker said Malian personnel told them their primary concern was security and stability rather than ideological alignment with Russia or other states.
To underscore the point the witness quoted a Malian expression: "if you have mice in your house, does the color of the cat matter?" The witness framed that remark as an example of why some governments accept security partnerships that Western governments find controversial.
