Wagner Mercenaries Killed in Mali Attack by Al-Qaeda-Aligned Group

Published 4:30 PM ET, Sunday November 24, 2024

According to SITE Intelligence Group, seven Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group were killed in central Mali on Thursday, in an attack claimed by al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

The attack 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 JNIM faction, and said that at least six Russians were killed in the attack. The consultant also stated that the mercenaries were members of the Africa Corps, a Russian paramilitary unit that has replaced Wagner in the region during the past year.