Russian mercenaries among dozens killed in Mali

Russian mercenaries and numerous others have been killed in Mali, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.

Soldiers and Russian Wagner mercenaries have suffered significant casualties during intense clashes in Mali’s northern region near the Algerian border, as reported by Tuareg rebels.

About 20 rebels were reported eliminated by the Malian army, while the loss of two soldiers was confirmed.

Several armored vehicles, trucks, and tankers were seized by the notable rebel group known as the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP-PSD) in Tinzaouaten’s border town on Thursday and Friday combats. The announcement was made public on Saturday.

The group asserted that they had caused impairment to a helicopter, resulting in its crash in Kidal – a town located several hundred kilometers apart.

According to reports from the Malian army, 10 soldiers were injured and two lost their lives. In addition, a helicopter crash occurred during an ordinary mission in Kidal on Friday; however, no fatalities are said to have resulted.

A number of Russian military bloggers, such as War Gonzo (also known as Semyon Pegov), stated on Sunday that roughly 20 members of the Wagner Group had been slain during an assault close to the Algerian boundary.

According to Pegov, there were some members of Wagner that got caught. The Baza Telegram news channel, which is noted for its links with Russian security establishments, confirmed these accounts.

These claims have not been verified independently by Reuters.

Following the passing of its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin due to an airplane accident in August, The Wagner Group’s future became uncertain. This group had played a crucial role during the conflict in Ukraine and their leader organized a short-lived rebellion against Russia’s defense establishment just two months before his untimely demise.

Ever since coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali has been under military rule while grappling with an ongoing Islamist insurgency. Despite the Malian government’s assertion that Russian troops are merely providing training to local soldiers using equipment supplied by Russia, Baza claims that Wagner mercenaries have been present in Mali for at least a year.

The Malian governmental marginalization has long been felt by the Tuareg, an ethnic group from the Sahara region spanning Northern Mali. They started a separatist movement against the administration in 2012 and were later absorbed into Islamist groups’ ranks. Even though they signed a peace agreement with Bamako three years ago, CSP-PSD quit negotiations at year-end2022.