Major blow to Putin in Africa as Russian forces driven from Mali stronghold by separatists, jihadists

JOHANNESBURG: A awesome conclusion for Russia’s mercenary Africa Corps, successful a conflict pinch jihadist and tribal militia, is being reported successful Mali. Deadly attacks by al Qaeda-linked rebels and mostly-Muslim Tuareg tribesmen crossed cities successful nan West African state are continuing Monday, besides pinch reports of elder figures successful Mali’s subject junta being killed aliases injured.

Analysts opportunity this could beryllium a turning constituent successful Moscow’s power successful West Africa. Russia has been grabbing Mali’s precious minerals, including gold, successful return for promising to protect nan state against nan rebels. Sunday though rebels reported that Russian mercenaries person been forced to retreat from their guidelines successful nan bluish metropolis of Kidal.

"The attacks are a awesome rustle to Russia", Ulf Laessing, caput of nan Sahel programme astatine nan Konrad Adenauer Foundation, told nan Associated Press. He added  "the (Russian) mercenaries had nary intelligence astir nan attacks and were incapable to protect awesome cities. They person unnecessarily worsened nan conflict by not distinguishing betwixt civilians and combatants."

Video of dormant soldiers who look pinch their features to beryllium Russian, and of Russian subject vehicles reportedly leaving Kidal, has been seen by Fox News Digital.

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A file of achromatic fume rises supra buildings arsenic postulation passes nan Africa Tower monument successful Bamako connected April 26, 2026. April 25, 2026's daze attacks, synchronized by Tuareg rebels of nan Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) conjugation and nan jihadist Group for nan Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), targeted respective areas successful nan immense arid country. Fighting resumed connected April 26 successful respective areas, including Kita adjacent Bamako, Kidal, Gao and Severe.Tuareg rebels meantime announced an statement allowing Russian forces backing Mali's service to retreat from nan bluish metropolis of Kidal, which they claimed was "totally" nether their control. (AFP via Getty Images)

The Defense News Nigeria media tract reported that Russia’s Africa Corps stated successful Kidal "they were heavy outnumbered by a ratio of 6 to 1" adding "the Corps claimed that betwixt 10,000 and 12,000 fighters were progressive successful yesterday’s attacks. There are 2,000 Russian mercenaries operating in Mali. The Malian authorities pays Wagner $10 cardinal per period for security," according to nan Nigerian publication.

A Russian blog connected Telegram Monday, claiming to travel from Kidal, stated "the units of nan African Corps that were stationed and fought successful Kidal near this colony together pinch nan subject unit of nan Malian army. First of all, wounded servicemen and dense instrumentality were evacuated. The unit continues to transportation retired nan assigned combat mission. The business successful nan Republic of Mali remains difficult."

A spokesperson for nan Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front, aliases FLA, told nan Associated Press that nan Russian troops, person withdrawn from nan metropolis aft a "white" statement was reached. This has not been confirmed by either Mali’s authorities aliases Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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This undated photograph handed retired by nan French subject shows 3 Russian mercenaries, right, successful bluish Mali. Russia has engaged successful under-the-radar subject operations successful astatine slightest half a twelve countries successful Africa successful nan past 5 years utilizing a shadowy mercenary unit analysts opportunity is loyal to President Vladimir Putin. The analysts opportunity nan Africa Corps, formerly nan Wagner Group, of mercenaries is besides cardinal to Putin's ambitions to re-impose Russian power connected a world scale.  (French Army via AP)

Russia's ministry of overseas affairs said connected its Telegram relationship that "two 100 and 50 militants attacked Bamako Senou International Airport and nan subject guidelines located nearby. The Malian Armed Forces repelled nan onslaught and are presently taking further steps to destruct nan militia that whitethorn person been, reportedly, trained by Western information agencies. Russia is profoundly concerned astir these developments. This violent activity poses a nonstop threat to the stableness of friends Mali and could person nan astir superior consequences for nan full region." 

Mali’s subject junta, which first took powerfulness successful a coup successful 2020, Monday announced that some nan main of nan equipped forces’ wide staff, Gen. Oumar Diarra, and nan head of nan nationalist information agency, Gen. Modibo Koné, person been wounded successful attacks.

The authorities confirmed earlier that Sadio Camara, said to beryllium nan 2nd astir important fig successful Mali’s subject junta, had been killed successful nan fighting. Camara was Mali’s defense minister, and is wide credited pinch bringing successful Moscow’s mercenary Africa Corps to assistance successful battling nan militia.

The rebels attempting to return complete Mali are said to beryllium jihadists from nan Nusrat al-Islam (GSIM/JNIM) linked pinch nan tribesmen of nan FLA and different groups, including astatine slightest 1 linked pinch Islamic State. The GSIM’s declared purpose is to move Mali into an al Qaeda-linked Islamic caliphate pinch strict Sharia law.

"The United States powerfully condemns nan violent onslaught successful Mali," a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital Monday, adding: "We widen our deepest condolences to nan victims, their families, and each those affected. We guidelines pinch nan Malian group and authorities successful nan look of this violence. The United States remains committed to supporting efforts to beforehand peace, stability, and information crossed Mali and nan region."

File image of Wagner group forces, now known arsenic nan Russia Corps, successful Mali successful 2024. (East2West)

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The U.S. Embassy successful Mali warned Sunday connected its website that "U.S. citizens should proceed to shelter successful place, stay alert, travel section news for updates, and debar areas wherever information operations whitethorn beryllium underway."

On Monday, aggregate reports started said that Malian troops and Russian mercenaries person besides been forced by rebels to retreat from nan bluish Malian metropolis of Tessit. At nan clip of publication, this had not been confirmed by nan Malian government.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.