At least seven Russian mercenaries, likely from the Wagner Group, were killed in an attack in central Mali on Thursday.The attack was claimed by the al-Qaeda affiliate, JNIM.
This latest incident highlights the increasing dangers faced by Russian mercenaries operating in the Sahel region. In July, Wagner suffered significant losses in a battle with Tuareg rebels and Islamists near the Algerian border.
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are grappling with a growing insurgency by Islamist extremist groups like IS and al-Qaeda.These groups have seized vast territories in the Sahel over the past decade.
A video shared online purportedly shows the bodies of at least five white men in military uniforms following the attack.While Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the video, photos released by SITE Intelligence show bloodied bodies and seized weapons.
A Malian army source confirmed the attack and the death of seven individuals, including Russian fighters. Local administrators also corroborated the incident, with one stating that five Wagner fighters were killed.
A security consultant working in the region identified the attackers as members of Katiba Macina, a JNIM branch. The consultant also suggested that the deceased Russians were part of the Africa Corps, a Kremlin-controlled paramilitary force that has replaced Wagner in African operations.
While the Malian government has denied the presence of mercenaries and insists that Russian forces are merely trainers, the increasing casualties among Russian personnel raise questions about the true nature of their involvement in the region.