A commander from a Russian mercenary group was killed in Mali during an ambush by rebel fighters amid a sandstorm, the group reported. The West African nation’s military regime enlisted the Wagner group in 2021 to combat jihadist and separatist forces.
The mercenary outfit, now rebranded as Africa Corps, revealed it joined Mali’s military in intense battles against these forces last week. During the conflict, separatists launched a significant attack, killing an estimated 20 to 50 mercenaries, sources close to Africa Corps informed the media.
Russian military bloggers also reported at least 20 fatalities in the ambush near Tinzaouaten in the north-east. The Russian group, in a Telegram statement, did not specify the number of casualties but confirmed losses, including commander Sergei Shevchenko.
Initially, the mercenaries claimed to have “destroyed most of the Islamists and put the rest to flight.” However, a subsequent sandstorm enabled the radicals to regroup and increase their numbers to around 1,000.
The separatist group, the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD), predominantly Tuareg, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The CSP-PSD spokesperson mentioned that prisoners were taken and significant equipment and weapons were captured or damaged. They also released videos showing numerous men in military fatigues lying motionless and others with blindfolds and tied hands.
Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, also claimed responsibility for the ambush, stating they killed 50 Russian mercenaries.
Over a decade ago, Mali’s central government lost control of the north following a Tuareg rebellion demanding a separate state. Islamist militants complicated the situation further.
The military, citing the government’s failure to address the unrest, took power in coups in 2020 and 2021, subsequently severing ties with France and aligning with Russia. The Wagner group was dismantled after a mutiny by its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin last year, leading to its replacement by Africa Corps in West Africa.
