Wagner Group to withdraw from Mali after ‘completing mission’

The Wagner Group announced that it withdraws from Mali after it was called “the completion of its main mission” in the country of West Africa.

The Russian mercenary group has been working there since 2021, where it has been working with the army to challenge Islamic militants.

In a message about Telegram channel, Wagner said it “fought terrorism along with a financial people,” killing “thousands of militants and their leaders, who worsened for civilians for years.”

The announcement of the withdrawal comes on the same day as it is reports that financial soldiers had withdrawn from a major base in the center of the country, after they were subjected to a second deadly attack in less than a week.

Mali is struggling with a hard -line Islamic rebellion for more than a decade.

After accusations that the government was failing to deal with this insecurity, the army seized power a few years ago.

The French forces, which were originally deployed to assist the civil government, left the country in 2022. By that time, the Military Council responsible for Mali has already started working with Russian mercenaries to combat rebels.

There has been a return in jihadist attacks on the military bases in the state of the Sahel in recent weeks.

Last Sunday, Al Qaeda -linked group said it was It carried out a major attack on the city of Balkis And the army base there.

More than 30 soldiers were killed, according to the sources quoted by the Reuters news agency.

Then on Monday, the same group – the first Nasrat Group – Islam and Alyab (JNIM) – said that it targeted the army in the historic city of Timbocto, where the residents reported the shooting and explosions.

The rebels also attacked an army site in the village of Maq in the southeastern Sikaso region, killing five.

Local residents told the news agency to Agence France -Presse that the soldiers withdrew from the Bolksi base after a new attack on Thursday that resulted in multiple death.

A military source said that the departure was a “strategy” and “at the request of the hierarchical sequence,” according to the news agency.

The increasing attacks in the Sahael area raised concerns about Wagner’s effectiveness in the region.

Although the paramilitary group announced its exit from Mali, Russian forces will continue to play an active role in the country’s security scene.

The African Corps – Russian mercenary force will remain competing aimed at absorbing Wagner’s activities on the continent – in Mali.

Russia has increasing military, political and economic influence in West and Central Africa.

On Friday, the announcement was not mentioned whether Wagner will leave the Central African Republic, where its African headquarters are.