At least seven Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group were killed in an attack in central Mali on November 22.
The assault was claimed by al Qaeda’s affiliate, JNIM, which ambushed the group on Thursday. SITE Intelligence confirmed the deaths and said the attackers also seized weapons from the Russian fighters.
This attack follows a deadly encounter in July, where Wagner mercenaries suffered heavy losses against Tuareg rebels and Islamists near Mali’s border with Algeria. The Sahel region remains a hotspot for extremist violence, with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger struggling to contain Islamic State and al Qaeda militants.
Graphic images and video footage from the attack showed the bodies of Russian soldiers in military fatigues around a military vehicle. While the authenticity of the videos is unverified, the incident was confirmed by local administrators and military sources.
The Malian government has repeatedly stated that Russian forces in the country are trainers, not mercenaries. However, the attack highlights the growing dangers faced by foreign military groups operating in the region.
