Wagner Exits Mali as Africa Corps Takes Over Russian Operations

Wagner mercenaries have officially left Mali after three and a half years, transferring control to Africa Corps, another Russian paramilitary group. The Malian military’s ties with Russia deepen as they face rising threats from jihadist groups amid a challenging security landscape exacerbated by human rights allegations against foreign fighters.

The paramilitary group Wagner has officially exited Mali, with its operations and personnel handed over to Africa Corps, another Russian military group that reports directly to the Kremlin. Diplomatic and security sources disclosed the information, indicating that Wagner had been in Mali for three and a half years prior to its withdrawal.

One source familiar with the situation confirmed to the French news agency AFP, stating, “Officially, Wagner is no longer present in Mali. But the Africa Corps is stepping up,” reiterating that another Russian group is now in control. A Telegram account linked to Wagner noted, “Mission accomplished. PMC Wagner is going home.”

In Bamako, officials contacted by RFI have neither confirmed nor denied Wagner’s departure, which follows a long-standing pattern where the Malian junta labels these operatives as just “Russian instructors,” distancing itself from any acknowledgment of mercenary activity.

Mali, along with its neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger, has faced an insurgency involving groups associated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State for over a decade. Following military coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali severed ties with France, its former colonial ruler, and has sought assistance from Russia for military and political backing.

The French military, stationed in Mali with around 2,400 troops, withdrew in 2022 after relations soured and public opposition to France intensified. There have been ongoing discussions between Sahel ministers and Russian officials following the unraveling of ties with Western allies.

The Wagner group, well known for its operations worldwide, was restructured after the sudden death of its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash last August. Despite this upheaval, a diplomatic source reiterated that, “The Kremlin remains in control,” emphasizing the continuity in Russian military support through Africa Corps.

Significant numbers of Wagner personnel, primarily from Russia, will be integrated into the Africa Corps, focusing operations in Bamako and northern capitals. Analysts suggest that while Wagner professed to strengthen the Malian military, Africa Corps will need to provide ongoing support and training, especially in light of a recent uptick in jihadist offensives against the Malian Armed Forces (FAMA).

Beverly Ochieng, an expert from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, pointed out the imperative for Africa Corps to upskill and support the FAMA amid these challenges, echoing similar sentiments about continuity in military oversight: “Wagner yesterday or Africa Corps today, our point of contact remains the same, it is the central power in Russia, that is to say the Kremlin.”

Human rights organizations have condemned the violent tactics used by Wagner in Mali. A UN report raised alarm over allegations of over 500 executions linked to the Malian forces and their foreign partners during a March 2022 operation in Moura. The Malian junta has consistently denied these accusations, yet skepticism remains among Western governments who suspect the foreign fighters involved were Wagner combatants.

Last April revealed grim findings when bodies were located near a Malian military base soon after the detention of dozens of civilians, predominantly from the Fulani ethnic group, by the military and Wagner personnel. Human Rights Watch has further implicated the Malian military and the Wagner group in the killings of at least 32 civilians over eight months.

Wagner’s departure arrives at a critical juncture for Mali, amid claims by the army of increased jihadist activities, evidenced by deadly attacks that have claimed the lives of numerous soldiers and forced military retreats from key installations.

In summary, Wagner’s withdrawal from Mali has transitioned control to Africa Corps, a Russian military group rooted firmly in the Kremlin’s structure. The situation remains precarious as Mali grapples with increasing jihadist threats, and allegations of human rights violations linger amid the shifting tides of military assistance. The ongoing presence of Russian military support underscores a pivotal change in Mali’s security strategy, having pivoted away from the West since military coups in recent years.

Original Source: www.inkl.com