Russia’s Wagner mercenary group announced that its fighters have recovered the bodies of comrades killed during a July 2024 battle in northern Mali, where the mercenaries fought Tuareg rebels and Islamist militants amid a desert sandstorm.
Wagner stated that the operation to recover the bodies took place near Tinzaouaten, an area known for militant activity and clashes between separatist groups and extremist factions. “An operation was successfully completed to return the bodies of our brothers, who in July 2024 heroically took up the fight with Islamists many times outnumbered,” Wagner said. The group, which has been involved in supporting Mali’s military junta, added that all fallen fighters would be returned to Russia. Wagner did not specify the number of bodies recovered but reported that 35 of its fighters were killed in the battle, and two remain in captivity. The Tuareg rebels refuted Wagner’s claims of recovering bodies, stating that Wagner fighters were relocated following the July ambush.
1..Statement of #Wagner Group’s operation in the area of Tin Zautin in #Mali
“Yesterday, the operation was successfully completed to return the bodies of our brothers, who in July 2024 heroically took the battle with many times superior Islamists.#Azawad pic.twitter.com/MdxNEnZEqn— Real Libyan (@real__libyan) October 8, 2024
Mali has struggled for years to combat insurgencies fueled by separatist movements and terrorist groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. Wagner’s involvement in Mali has grown since the country’s military rulers took power in coups in 2020 and 2021, relying on the group to bolster their fight against Islamist extremists after the departure of French forces.
Wagner first acknowledged heavy losses in July but provided few details about the battle until this recent statement. The group’s operations in Mali, alongside local armed forces, have drawn international attention due to the growing instability in the region, as well as the increasing influence of Russian private military companies in Africa. Mali’s fight against terrorism has intensified as Islamist insurgents continue to gain ground, particularly in the northern regions.
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