Wagner Group leaving Mali after heavy losses but Russia's Africa Corps to remain
Source: Associated Press
Wagner Group leaving Mali after heavy losses but Russia’s Africa Corps to remain
By MARK BANCHEREAU
Updated 5:01 PM EDT, June 6, 2025
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The Russia-backed Wagner Group said Friday it is leaving Mali after more than three and a half years of fighting Islamic extremists and insurgents in the country.
Despite Wagner’s announcement, Russia will continue to have a mercenary presence in the West African country. The Africa Corps, Russia’s state-controlled paramilitary force, said on its Telegram channel Friday that Wagner’s departure would not introduce any changes and the Russian contingent will remain in Mali.
“Mission accomplished. Private Military Company Wagner returns home,” the group announced via its channel on the messaging app Telegram. It said it had brought all regional capitals under control of the Malian army, pushed out armed militants and killed their commanders.
Mali, along with neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger, has for more than a decade battled an insurgency fought by armed groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/mali-wagner-russia-withdraws-b29349be737cbc14dfc435b3536711eb