Russian Africa Corps Loses Equipment in Mali Ambush

Russian forces from the so-called Africa Corps were ambushed by Azawad rebels in Mali, according to the open-source intelligence project war_noir on X.

The ambush occurred near the Tuareg town of Kidal, reportedly involving PRB-M3-A1 anti-tank mines of Belgian origin.

The convoy included personnel from both the Malian Armed Forces and Russian mercenaries from the Africa Corps.

According to LSI Africa, four Russian mercenaries were killed and three others injured in the blast. Photos show a damaged tractor with an empty trailer, suggesting that other vehicles in the convoy were also hit. Witnesses described a significant number of casualties.

Attacks on Russian Mercenaries in Mali

Attacks targeting Russian paramilitaries in Mali have become increasingly frequent. On February 6, an ambush targeted a VPK-Ural armored vehicle used by Africa Corps fighters. That incident reportedly involved an improvised explosive device with remote detonation capability.

In late November 2024, fighters from the al-Qaeda-affiliated group JNIM (also known as AQIM) attacked a Wagner Group convoy in Southern Mali.

A vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) was used in that attack, which killed six Wagner fighters. The group published photos of weapons seized, including five AK-pattern rifles, a PK/PKM machine gun, and a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun.

Another large-scale attack took place at the end of 2024, reportedly targeting a joint convoy of Russian personnel and members of Mali’s military junta. The vehicle hit was of Chinese origin.

Wagner’s Exit from Mali

Recently, the Wagner Group announced the end of its operations in Mali after 3.5 years. In a public statement, the group claimed its mission had concluded following the “restoration of legal control” over all regional centers.

Wagner’s presence in Mali began in 2021 after the coup led by Colonel Assimi Goïta. Russian forces worked closely with the military regime and took part in operations against jihadist groups such as Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS).

Clashes with the Tuareg-led Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) reignited in recent months. A fragile ceasefire in place since 2015 effectively collapsed after the junta dissolved key agreements and undermined the previous peace framework.

Ukrainian Involvement Alleged

In late 2024, reports emerged that Tuareg rebels had obtained intelligence and support enabling them to carry out coordinated attacks on Wagner forces.

According to Le Monde, Ukrainian special services were involved in providing training, reconnaissance support, and drones to Tuareg units. Photos published by the Kyiv Post newspaper show fighters with a Ukrainian flag following an ambush on Wagner forces near Kidal.

Sources claim Ukraine supplied strategic intelligence on the movements and locations of Russian forces. This support may have been decisive in an attack that reportedly killed at least 84 Wagner personnel.