Johannesburg: Russia’s mercenary Africa Corps is reported to have suffered a major defeat in the fight against jihadists and tribal militias in Mali. Deadly attacks by Al Qaeda-linked rebels and the mostly-Muslim Tuareg tribe continued Monday in the West African country’s cities, with reports of senior figures in Mali’s military junta killed or wounded.
Analysts say this could be a turning point in Moscow’s influence in West Africa. Russia has been seizing valuable minerals, including gold, from Mali in return for promises to defend the country against the rebels. On Sunday, however, rebels reported that Russian mercenaries had been forced to withdraw from their base in the northern city of Kidal.
“The attacks are a huge blow to Russia,” Ulf Lessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, told The Associated Press. He added, “The (Russian) mercenaries had no knowledge of the attack and were unable to protect the major cities. They unnecessarily worsened the conflict by not distinguishing between civilians and combatants.”
Videos of dead soldiers that were identified as Russian and Russian military vehicles left behind were seen by Fox News Digital.
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A plume of black smoke rises above the buildings as traffic passes by the Africa Tower monument in Bamako on April 26, 2026. The shock attacks of April 25, 2026, are aimed at Tuareg rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition and the Islamic Group (SIM) and Muslims in several areas of the jihadist group. dry country On April 26, fighting broke out again in several areas, including Bamako, Kidal, Gao and Kita near Severay. Tuareg rebels meanwhile announced a deal to allow Russian troops backing Mali’s army to withdraw from the northern city of Kidal, which they claimed was “fully” under their control.
(Getty Images)
The Defense News Nigeria media site reported that Russia’s Africa Corps said in Kidal “they were heavily outnumbered by a ratio of 6 to 1,” adding “The Corps claimed between 10,000 and 12,000 fighters were involved in yesterday’s attack. There are 2,000 Russian mercenaries. Security,” according to the Nigerian publication.
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A Russian blog on Telegram on Monday claimed to be from Kidal, “Units of the African Corps stationed and fighting in Kidal left this settlement together with Malian army soldiers. First of all, wounded soldiers and heavy equipment were evacuated. Personnel continue to carry out the assigned combat mission. The situation in Mali is difficult.”
A spokesman for the Tuareg-led Azwad Liberation Front, or FLA, told The Associated Press that Russian forces had withdrawn from the city after the “white” deal. This has not been confirmed by Mali’s government or the Russian Foreign Ministry.
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This undated photo, handed over by the French military, shows three Russian mercenaries in northern Mali. Russia has engaged in under-the-radar military operations in at least half a dozen African countries over the past five years, using shadow mercenaries, analysts say, loyal to President Vladimir Putin. Analysts say Africa Corps, formerly the mercenary Wagner Group, is also key to Putin’s ambitions to reassert Russian influence on a global scale.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on its Telegram account that “250 terrorists attacked Seno International Airport in Bama and a nearby military base. The Malian Armed Forces repelled the attack and are currently taking further steps to eliminate militias trained by Western security agencies. Russia has developed deep concerns about this terrorist activity. It could have the most serious consequences for friendly Mali and the entire region.”
Mali’s military junta, which took power for the first time in 2020, announced on Monday that the chief of the general staff of the armed forces, General Omar Diarra, and the director of the National Security Agency, General Modibo Kone, had both been wounded in the attack.
Sadio Camara, said to be the second most important figure in Mali’s military junta, had been killed in the fighting, the government had previously confirmed. Camara was Mali’s defense minister, and is widely credited with bringing in Moscow’s mercenary Afrika Korps to help fight the militias.
The rebels trying to take over Mali are said to be jihadists from Nusrat al-Islam (GSIM/JNIM), the FLA and other groups, including at least one linked to the Islamic State. GSIM’s declared aim is to turn Mali into an Al Qaeda-affiliated Islamic caliphate with strict Sharia law.
“The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Mali,” a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Monday: “We offer our deepest condolences to the victims, their families and all those affected. We stand with the people and government of Mali in the face of this violence. The United States remains committed to supporting efforts to advance peace, stability and security in Mali and throughout the region.”
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The US Embassy in Mali warned on its website Sunday that “US citizens should continue to shelter in place, remain vigilant, follow local news for updates, and stay away from areas where security operations are underway.”
On Monday, multiple reports said the Malian army and Russian mercenaries had also been forced back from the northern Mali city of Tasit by rebels. At the time of publication, this had not been confirmed by the Malian government.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Original article source: Big blow to Putin in Africa, Russian troops push out of Mali, stronghold of separatists and jihadists
