Mali-Rebels wanted to kill 20 Wagner-Soldiers
Western troops have withdrawn. In turn, the Malian military junta is now being supported by soldiers from the Wagner Group in their fight against rebels. A rebel alliance has now announced the death of dozens of opponents, including 20 Wagner soldiers.
Tuareg rebels in northern Mali have killed or injured dozens of government soldiers and Wagner Group mercenaries. Multiple Media reported this based on statements from the group. There were two-day battles near the Algerian border. The Malian army had previously reported losing two soldiers but killing around 20 rebels. The information cannot be independently verified.
In videos on social media, the bodies of several white men and Malian soldiers were visible. In addition, the videos showed destroyed vehicles and military equipment scattered on the ground.
The CSP-PSD rebel movement declared on Saturday that they had seized armored vehicles, trucks, and tank trucks during the battles in the border town of Tinzaouaten on Thursday and Friday. The group also claimed to have damaged a helicopter. This helicopter allegedly crashed in the distant city of Kidal. According to the army, the helicopter crashed in Kidal on Friday during a routine mission, but no one was killed. Kidal is a stronghold of Tuareg-dominated rebel groups.
Russian bloggers report an ambush
Meanwhile, Russian military bloggers reported that at least 20 members of the Wagner Group were killed in an ambush. "Employees of the Wagner Group, who were traveling in a convoy with government troops, were killed in Mali," wrote the famous military blogger Semion Pegov. The Telegram news channel Baza also reported that at least 20 Wagner fighters had been killed.
The Wagner Group, led by its chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, gained notoriety through their involvement in the attack on Ukraine. Wagner soldiers, for example, were involved in the bloody battle for Debaltseve. Prigozhin fell out with the Russian military leadership. After a failed uprising in June last year, Prigozhin died in an airplane crash in August 2023. The circumstances of his death are still unclear.
Additionally, Wagner soldiers were also active in other international conflicts, such as in Syria and several African countries. In Mali, Wagner supports the military junta in their fight against Islamic rebels in the north of the country. Western troops have been withdrawn from Mali after years of deployment. The last German soldiers left the country in the last December.
Following the ambush, Russian military bloggers claimed the loss of at least 20 Wagner Group mercenaries in Mali. This comes amidst ongoing Wars and Conflicts in the region, with Politics playing a significant role in the country's turmoil. The Malian military junta, now supported by Wagner, is actively engaged in these conflicts, as evidenced by the recent battles near the Algerian border.
