Seven Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group were killed in central Mali on Thursday, following an attack claimed by the al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), according to SITE Intelligence Group.
The assault took place in a region heavily affected by the ongoing conflict involving separatists and Islamist militants. JNIM, a major player in the region, seized weapons during the attack.
A video reviewed by Reuters showed the bodies of at least five men in military fatigues near a damaged vehicle, although the authenticity of the footage could not be confirmed. SITE Intelligence also shared images showing lifeless bodies and captured arms.
Malian sources, including a military official and two local administrators, confirmed the deaths of the Russian fighters. One of the administrators stated that five Wagner operatives had been killed.
A regional security consultant identified the attackers as Katiba Macina, a faction of JNIM, and stated that at least six Russians were killed in the assault. The consultant also noted that the mercenaries were part of the Africa Corps, a Russian paramilitary force that has taken over from Wagner in the region over the past year.
