The forces of the “African Corps”, a paramilitary force under the Kremlin, said on Friday that they will remain in Mali after the Russian Wagner Group, which has fought 3 and a half years against Islamic militants.
And spread Wagner In Mali since the army, who seized power through two coups in 2020 and 2021, overthrew French forces and forces United Nations That was fighting the “Islamic rebellion” for a decade.
It was established “Corps Africa“With the support of the Russian Ministry of Defense after he led Wagner’s founder Levini brigagin Commander Dmitry Ottkin is a failed military rebellion against the leadership of the Russian army, then they left to Belarus with other mercenaries.
According to several talks on the applicationTelegram“Russian mercenaries use it and viewed by Reuters, about 80% of the” African Corps “consists of former fighters in the Wagner Group.
Wagner posted on social media that she would return to Russia “after she successfully completed her mission in Mali.”
She added that it had restored all regional centers in the country to the control of the Military Council, after “the Islamic forces were expelled and killed their leaders.”
Wagner did not explain what her fighters would do upon their return to Russia.
The African Corps on its channel in Telegram said that Vagner’s departure will not make any change, as the Russian forces will remain in Mali.
“Russia does not lose a foothold, on the contrary, it continues to support Pamako Now on a more fundamental level. “
The Ministry of Defense did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
The last weeks have witnessed a wave of attacks that the gunmen said had killed more than 100 financial soldiers and some mercenaries.
The organization “Nasra al -Islam and Muslims”, an armed faction active in the Sahel region of West Africa, has claimed responsibility for recent violence, including a bombing targeting financial soldiers and Russian near Bamako on Wednesday.
Olf Lasing, head of the Sahel program at the German “Conrad Adenaur” Foundation, said in an interview. Russia It seeks to replace the “African Corps” with Phagner in Mali.
He added, “Caring for the African Corps means that the Russian military intervention in Mali will continue, but the focus may turn more towards training and providing equipment, and less on direct fighting against jihadists,” he added.