Image credits: Defence Blog
Russian mercenaries have reported substantial casualties in a two-day clash with Tuareg rebels near Mali’s border with Algeria. The Wagner Group, a prominent Russian mercenary organization, confirmed the losses in a rare statement released on Monday.
The conflict, which erupted from July 22 to July 27, saw intense fighting between Wagner mercenaries and the Tuareg separatist coalition known as the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD). Wagner detailed a series of fierce battles and tactical victories followed by significant losses, exacerbated by a sandstorm that allowed rebels to regroup and bolster their numbers to approximately 1,000.
The CSP-PSD claimed a major victory, asserting that they inflicted severe damage on the Malian army and its Russian allies. Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadan, a spokesperson for CSP-PSD, reported that their forces had “decisively obliterated enemy columns” on Saturday, capturing or damaging a substantial amount of equipment and weapons. Rebels also claimed seven of their fighters were killed and 12 wounded in the Tinzaouatene district.
Al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) claimed responsibility for attacking the Malian convoy and Wagner forces, alleging that they killed 50 Russians and 10 Malians, though these claims remain unverified. Russian state-run TASS confirmed the death of military blogger Nikita Fedyanin, linked to Wagner’s high-profile Telegram channel, and suggested that Wagner commander Anton Yelizarov might have been captured or killed.
The heavy losses in Mali represent one of the most severe setbacks for Russian mercenaries, excluding their engagements in Ukraine and Syria. Following the death of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023, the Russian Defense Ministry has overseen Wagner’s operations in Africa through a new entity known as Africa Corps. The situation underscores the complexities and risks of international mercenary operations and the evolving dynamics of Russian influence in Africa.