Unrest in Mali
Video shows armed militants gathering in Kidal, Mali as smoke rises. (Video: Reuters.)
JOHANNESBURG: In Mali, a major defeat is reported for the Russian mercenary Africa Corps in a battle with jihadist and tribal militias. Deadly attacks by Al Qaeda-linked rebels and mainly Muslim Tuareg tribesmen in cities across the West African country continued on Monday, including reports of the killing or wounding of senior figures in Mali’s military junta.
Analysts say this could be a turning point in Moscow’s influence in West Africa. Russia has seized Mali’s precious minerals, including gold, in exchange for a promise to protect the country from rebels. However, on Sunday rebels said Russian mercenaries have been forced to withdraw from their base in the northern city of Kidal.
“The attacks are a big blow to Russia,” Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, told the Associated Press. He added that “the (Russian) mercenaries had no information about the attacks and were unable to protect major cities. They unnecessarily aggravated the conflict by not distinguishing between civilians and combatants.”
US ALLOWS SOME NIGERIA EMBASSY STAFF TO EVACUATE OVER ‘WOROSING SECURITY SITUATION’
A column of black smoke rises above buildings as traffic passes the Africa Tower monument in Bamako on April 26, 2026. The April 25, 2026 shock attacks, synchronized by Tuareg rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition and the jihadist Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), targeted several areas in the vast arid country. Fighting resumed on April 26 in several areas, including Kita near Bamako, Kidal, Gao and Severe. Tuareg rebels, meanwhile, announced a deal that would allow Russian forces backing Mali’s army to withdraw from the northern town of Kidal, which they said was “completely” under their control. (AFP via Getty Images)
The Defense News Nigeria media site reported that Russia’s Africa Corps in Kidal stated that “they were heavily outnumbered by a ratio of 6 to 1,” adding that “the corps claimed that between 10,000 and 12,000 fighters were involved in yesterday’s attacks. There are 2,000 Russian mercenaries operating in Mali. The Malian government pays Wagner $10 million a month for security,” the Nigerian publication said.
A Russian blog on Telegram on Monday, claiming to be from Kidal, stated that “the African Corps units stationed and fighting in Kidal left this settlement together with the military personnel of the Malian army. First of all, wounded servicemen and heavy equipment were evacuated. The personnel continue to carry out the assigned combat mission. The situation in the Republic of Mali remains difficult.”
A spokesman for the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) told the Associated Press that Russian troops withdrew from the city after a “white” agreement was reached. This has not been confirmed by either the Malian government or the Russian Foreign Ministry.
TRUMP’S APPROACH TO AFRICA LIVED BY TOP REPUBLICAN AS RECENT AIR RAIDS SHOW ‘OUTSIDE THE BOX’ THINKING
This undated photo distributed by the French army shows three Russian mercenaries, right, in northern Mali. Russia has carried out under-the-radar military operations in at least six countries in Africa over the past five years, using a shadowy mercenary force that analysts say is loyal to President Vladimir Putin. The analysts say the Afrika Korps, formerly the Wagner Group, of mercenaries is also key to Putin’s ambitions to reimpose Russian influence on a global scale. (French army via AP)
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in its Telegram account that “two hundred and fifty militants attacked the Bamako Senou International Airport and the nearby military base. The Malian Armed Forces repelled the attack and are currently taking further steps to eliminate the militia reportedly trained by Western security services. Russia is deeply concerned about these developments. This terrorist activity poses a direct threat to the stability of friendly Mali and could have the most serious consequences for the entire region.”
Mali’s military junta, which first came to power in a coup in 2020, announced on Monday that both the chief of the armed forces’ general staff, General Oumar Diarra, and the director of the national security service, General Modibo Koné, had been injured in attacks.
The government previously confirmed that Sadio Camara, reportedly the second most important figure in Mali’s military junta, had been killed in the fighting. Camara was Mali’s defense minister and is widely credited with enlisting Moscow’s African mercenary corps to help in the fight against the militia.
The rebels trying to take over Mali are believed to be jihadists from the Nusrat al-Islam (GSIM/JNIM) linked to FLA tribesmen and other groups, including at least one linked to Islamic State. The stated goal of the GSIM is to turn Mali into an al-Qaeda-linked Islamic caliphate with strict Sharia law.
File photo of the Wagner Group forces, now known as the Russia Corps, in Mali in 2024. (East2West)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The U.S. Embassy in Mali warned on its website Sunday that “U.S. citizens should continue to shelter in place, remain alert, monitor local news for updates, and avoid areas where security operations may be taking place.”
Several reports emerged on Monday that Malian troops and Russian mercenaries have also been forced by rebels to withdraw from the northern Malian city of Tessit. At the time of publication, this had not yet been confirmed by the Malian government.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
