The Russia-backed Wagner Group announced Friday it is leaving Mali after over three and a half years of combating Islamic extremists and insurgents, claiming “mission accomplished.”
However, Russia’s state-controlled Africa Corps confirmed its mercenary presence would continue unchanged in the West African nation.
Wagner stated it had brought regional capitals under Malian army control and pushed out militants.
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have battled insurgency for over a decade.
Russia has expanded military cooperation as Western influence waned, initially via Wagner.
Following Yevgeny Prigozhin’s 2023 death, Moscow developed Africa Corps, directly commanded by its defense ministry, as a Wagner rival.
US officials estimate around 2,000 mercenaries are in Mali, though numbers for each group are unclear.
Security analysts suggest Russia’s defense ministry negotiated to transition Wagner mercenaries to Africa Corps.
Wagner’s presence in Mali began in late 2021, replacing French troops.
However, the Malian army and Wagner struggled to curb violence and faced accusations of targeting civilians.
UN experts urged investigations into alleged summary executions and disappearances by Wagner and the army.
Human Rights Watch also accused them of deliberately killing civilians.
Wagner’s withdrawal follows heavy losses from recent attacks by the al-Qaida-linked JNIM.
Experts suggest major losses or internal disputes may have prompted Wagner’s sudden decision.
Replacing Wagner with Africa Corps troops could shift Russia’s focus in Mali from active combat to training and providing equipment, with Africa Corps having a “lighter footprint.”
