Mali Rebels Claim Heavy Casualties in Army, Wagner Clashes

Mali’s northern Tuareg rebels have reported killing and injuring dozens of Malian soldiers and Wagner mercenaries during intense clashes near the Algerian border. The Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security, and Development (CSP-PSD) stated the two days of fighting took place on Thursday and Friday in the border town of Tinzaouaten.

The Malian army acknowledged the loss of two soldiers and injuries to ten others while claiming to have killed about 20 rebels. Additionally, the army reported a helicopter crash in Kidal on Friday during a routine mission, with no fatalities.

The CSP-PSD asserted they seized armored vehicles, trucks, and tankers during the clashes and damaged a helicopter that crashed in Kidal, located hundreds of kilometers away. The rebel group further claimed to have defeated a Malian army battalion supported by Wagner mercenaries, capturing the surviving soldiers and mercenaries. Seven CSP-PSD fighters were killed and 12 injured in the battles.

Russian military bloggers, including Semyon Pegov, known as War Gonzo, and the Baza Telegram news channel, which has ties to Russia’s security structures, reported at least 20 Wagner fighters were killed in an ambush near the Algerian border. Some Wagner fighters were reportedly captured during the clashes. Reuters has not independently verified these reports.

Wagner, previously involved in major conflicts such as in Ukraine, has faced uncertainty following the death of its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a plane crash in August. Mali’s military authorities, who seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, have stated that Russian forces in Mali are trainers assisting local troops with equipment purchased from Russia, not Wagner mercenaries.

The Tuareg, an ethnic group in the Sahara region, including northern Mali, have long felt marginalized by the Malian government. They initiated an insurgency against the junta government in 2012, which was later hijacked by Islamist groups. Although a peace agreement was signed in 2015, the CSP-PSD withdrew from peace talks at the end of 2022, leading to renewed hostilities.