Tuareg rebels in Mali reported on Thursday that they killed at least 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers in clashes during late July.
The fighting was particularly fierce around Tinzaouaten.
The rebel group CSP claimed dozens of Wagner deaths, while an al Qaeda affiliate also reported killing 50 Wagner fighters in an ambush.
This loss represents Wagner’s heaviest defeat since its involvement in Mali.
Neither Mali nor Wagner has disclosed exact troop losses, but Wagner acknowledged significant casualties on July 29.
Malian authorities also admitted severe losses but have not provided numbers.
Despite the heavy losses, Russian-Malian cooperation seems unaffected.
Russia’s foreign ministry reaffirmed support for Mali, including military and socioeconomic assistance, without mentioning the recent clashes.
Russians have been in Mali since the army ousted French and U.N. troops in 2020 and 2021, replacing them with Wagner.
The Tuareg rebels, who feel marginalized, accuse Mali of collaborating with jihadist groups but deny any such collaboration.