The Wagner group has announced that it is withdrawn from Mali following what it called “the completion of its main mission” in the West African country.
The Russian mercenary group has operated there since 2021, working with the military to challenge Islamist activists.
In a message on his telegram channel, Wagner said that he had “fought terrorism side by side with the inhabitants of Mali”, killing “thousands of activists and their commanders, who terrorized civilians for years”.
The announcement of the withdrawal occurs the same day as the reports according to which the Malian soldiers had withdrawn from a major base in the center of the country, after having undergone a second deadly attack in less than a week.
Mali has been struggling with an militant Islamist insurgency for more than a decade.
Following the accusations that the government had failed to deal with this insecurity, the soldiers took power a few years ago.
The French troops, which were originally deployed to help the civil government, left the country in 2022. At that time, the junta in charge of Mali had already started to work with the Russian mercenaries to fight against the insurgents.
There has been a resurgence of jihadist attacks against the military bases of the State of Sahel in recent weeks.
Last Sunday, a group linked to Al-Qaeda said it had led a great attack on the city of Boulikessi And the army base there.
More than 30 soldiers were killed, according to sources cited by the Reuters news agency.
On Monday, the same group – Jama’a Nusrat Ul -Islam wa al -Muslimin (Jnim) – said that he was targeting the army in the historic city of Timbuktu, the residents declaring hearing shots and explosions.
The insurgents also attacked an army position in the village of Mahou in the southeast region of Sikasso, killing five.
Residents told AFP news agency that soldiers withdrew from the Boulkessi base after a new assault led to several dead on Thursday.
A military source said that the departure was “strategic” and “at the request of the hierarchy,” reported the news agency.
The increase in attacks in the Sahel region has raised concerns about Wagner’s efficiency in the region.
Although the paramilitary group has announced its release from Mali, Russian forces will always play an active role in the country’s safety landscape.
Fighters from Africa Corps – Russian mercenary force rival intended to absorb Wagner’s activities on the continent – will remain in Mali.
Russia has an increasing military, political and economic influence in West and Central Africa.
Friday’s announcement did not stipulate if Wagner would leave the Central African Republic, where its African seat is.
