Wagner Mercenaries Seek Termination of Operations in Mali
Title: Farewell, Wagner: Mali Encounter with Russian Mercenaries Ends
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The infamous Russian mercenary group Wagner has finally cast off its boots in the impoverished West African nation of Mali. In a brash, bulletin-style announcement, Wagner's top brass boomed, "Mission complete, troops back home!" via the group's own video channel. The Kremlin-backed paramilitary troops have been waging war alongside the Malian army against insurgent forces since 2021, including jihadist militias and nomadic rebels.
Initially, the Malian government called upon Wagner's forces to stem the tide of terrorist organizations that had taken control of vast swathes of Mali. The Wagner organization claims that they single-handedly obliterated thousands of insurgents and their high-ranking commanders, who had terrorized the civilian population for years[1][4]. According to Wagner, the establishment of security forces in Mali facilitated their withdrawal after an impressive mission[1][3][5].
However, the voluntary departure of Wagner's mercenaries is also rooted in several other factors.
- Tactical Advantage: Wagner portrayed their departure as a purposeful, yet tactful choice, citing that all regional capitals were now within the grasp of the Malian government[1][3][5].
- Swinging Russian Politics: The group's withdrawal from Mali is intertwined with broader rearrangements within Russia's security apparatus since the demise of Wagner's founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in 2023. After Prigozhin's untimely death and an ensuing rebellion, Russia's Ministry of Defense asserted control over private military activities, reorganizing Wagner in the process[1][2][4].
- Geopolitical Tug-of-War: Analysts argue that evolving Russian geopolitical objectives and the creation of the state-run Africa Corps, taking over Wagner's former duties in Mali, also influenced their departure[3][4].
Recent months have seen a heavy toll on Wagner, with significant casualties—including high-ranking commanders—during fierce clashes. Mali now rests under the rule of General Assimi Goïta, who rose to power through two military coups in 2020 and 2021[1]. The much-anticipated democratic elections, initially intended for 2022, have been persistently postponed due to security concerns.
Wagner's operatives have been engaged in numerous military operations across the African continent for years, acting as Moscow's power broker and securing access to raw materials. Apart from Mali, they are currently stationed in the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Niger, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the small island state of São Tomé and Príncipe[4].
Sources: ntv.de, dpa
Insights:
- The Russian Wagner mercenary group officially left Mali on June 6, 2025, asserting that they had accomplished their mission to support the Malian military against jihadist insurgents.
- Factors contributing to Wagner's withdrawal include mission completion, reorganization within Russia’s security apparatus, and shifting Russian geopolitical interests regarding the creation of the state-run Africa Corps.
- The Africa Corps is now taking over Wagner’s former duties in Mali.
I, a journalist, have been following the war-and-conflicts and politics in Mali, where the Russian mercenary group Wagner, led by the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, completed its mission to support the Malian military against jihadist insurgents. Now, general-news reports indicate that Russia's state-run Africa Corps will take over Wagner's former duties in Mali, as part of the Kremlin's broader geopolitical strategies. Despite the departure of Wagner mercenaries, Mali remains under the rule of General Assimi Goïta, whose democratic elections have been persistently postponed due to security concerns.
