Intense fighting erupted on Thursday between Malian government troops and separatist rebels near the country’s border with Algeria, according to rebel sources and local witnesses.
The ongoing conflict, which has plagued the West African nation for over a decade, has escalated in recent months as the junta seeks to consolidate its control over the vast territory.
The Malian junta, which seized power in 2020, has made the eradication of separatist and insurgent groups a top priority. In a recent offensive launched on Wednesday, government forces targeted the town of Tinzaouatene, a strategic location bordering Algeria.
A spokesperson for the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), a coalition of predominantly Tuareg separatist groups, claimed that Malian troops and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group were involved in the attack.
The CMA alleged heavy casualties among the Wagner fighters and government-backed forces.
While the Malian military has yet to provide an official statement, a military source confirmed ongoing operations to secure the nation’s territory.
Reports from the Algerian side of the border corroborate the clashes, with residents describing audible gunfire from across the border.
The latest fighting marks a significant escalation in the conflict, which has seen separatist groups lose ground to government forces in recent months.
The junta’s advances, particularly the capture of the rebel stronghold of Kidal last year, have been accompanied by allegations of human rights abuses against civilians. Mali’s government has consistently denied these accusations.
The ongoing instability in Mali has its roots in a 2012 uprising that led to the occupation of the country’s north by insurgent and separatist groups. Despite international intervention, the situation has deteriorated, with the country’s military leadership increasingly turning to Russia for support.