Russian Wagner Group Backs Out from Mali: Mission Complete, Time to Head Home
Wagner Mercenaries Seek Termination of Operations in Mali
Wanna know 'bout the Russian mercenary group Wagner? They've said they're leavin' Mali, claimin' their mission's done and it's time to pack up and head back home. Their press service spilled the beans in a video statement. Wagner folks have been aidin' the Malian army fight against rebel movements in the dusty Sahel region since 2021, tacklin' terrorists and Tuareg rebels alike.
They were invited in by the Malian government and helped stomp out terrorist organizations that were thrivin' in parts of the country. As they put it, "We've popped thousands of bad dudes and their bigwigs who've been terrifyin' the civilians for years." With the Malian security forces now built, they reckon their job's done.
But, they didn't mention their own losses lately: high-rankin' commanders and soldiers befallen in fierce battles. Mali's ruled by General Assimi Goïta now, who grabbed the power through two military coups in 2020 and 2021. Despite bein' the head of a transitional government, promised democratic elections have been regularly postponed because of security concerns.
Russians have been using Wagner in Africa for years, to do their dirty work and further their interests. The group was once under oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin's control, but after he fell from grace and his plane crashed under mysterious circumstances over Russia, they're now under direct Kremlin control. In exchange for intervenin' in Africa, they get political power and a piece of the resource pie. They beef up presidents or crush revolts, train African soldiers too.
Analysts from Acled reckon Wagner was involved in heaps of operations in Mali, some might've targeted civilians. Besides Mali, they're also in the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Niger, DR Congo, and São Tomé and Príncipe. These places have military agreements with Russia.
Oooh, and wait. Wagner's no longer the one in charge in Mali. The Africa Corps, run by Russia's Defense Ministry and controlled directly by the Kremlin, has taken their place. That means a brand-new chapter for Wagner and their operations in other African countries. Wanna know more about their legacy in Mali, or their presence in other regions? Keep askin'.
Sources: ntv.de, dpa
Back when Wagner left Mali, they were leavin' behind a mixed bag. On the one hand, they'd helped thwart terrorists and rebels in the Sahel region. On the other hand, accusations of resource exploitation and human rights violations dogged their every move.
As for the Wagner Group now, they've been a busy crew across the African continent, aidin' Russian business interests and backin' Moscow-friendly regimes. While the shake-up in Mali, with the Africa Corps takin' over, might mean a rethinkin' of their approach in other regions, it's still anybody's guess as to the group's current activities and deployments.
Despite leaving Mali, the Wagner Group continues to be active across the African continent, aiding Russian business interests and supporting Moscow-friendly regimes. However, the transition of responsibilities in Mali to the Africa Corps, under direct Kremlin control, may signal a change in their approach in other regions, adding uncertainty to the group's ongoing activities and deployments in various war- and conflict-prone areas, including general news and political arenas.
