At least seven Russian mercenaries were killed in central Mali during an attack claimed by al Qaeda’s North African affiliate, SITE Intelligence Group reported Friday, marking the latest blow to Moscow’s military presence in the volatile Sahel region.
The attack, which targeted what local officials identified as members of the Africa Corps, a Kremlin-controlled paramilitary force that has largely replaced the Wagner Group in Africa, comes months after Russian mercenaries suffered significant casualties in a July battle with Tuareg rebels near the Algerian border.
SITE Intelligence, which monitors extremist activities, said the al Qaeda-affiliated JNIM (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin) claimed responsibility for Thursday’s assault. Reuters reviewed video footage showing at least five white men in military fatigues lying dead around a military vehicle, though it could not independently verify the footage’s authenticity.
A Malian army source confirmed seeing seven bodies, including Russian fighters, while local administrators provided varying casualty counts, with one reporting five Wagner casualties. A regional security consultant specified that Katiba Macina, a JNIM subgroup, conducted the attack, killing at least six Russians.
The incident underscores the mounting challenges facing Russian military contractors supporting West African military governments struggling to contain various militant groups. Mali, along with neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, has battled Islamic State and al Qaeda offshoots that have controlled significant territory across the Sahel for over a decade.
Mali’s government, which has consistently characterized Russian forces as trainers rather than mercenaries, assisting local troops with Russian-supplied equipment, could not be reached for comment. JNIM released photos purporting to show dead soldiers and captured weapons caches from the attack.
