2024-08-06 07:37:39
In Mali, Tuareg rebels reported the elimination of 84 Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group and 47 Malian soldiers in three days. They managed to do this under the influence of Ukrainian intelligence. In particular, it is the Ukrainian special services that train the rebels in military affairs, for example, in operating drones.
The French newspaper Le Monde reports this.
Sources close to French journalists claim that Ukrainian intelligence services are helping rebels in Mali by providing strategic information and training them in the use of drones. Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadan, a spokesman for the CSP-DPA alliance of armed rebels, confirmed that they have ties to Ukrainian intelligence services. He noted that in addition to the Ukrainians, the Tuaregs also cooperate with the French, the Americans and “others.” However, he did not specify the others.
According to the rebels, more than 30 “enemy forces” fighters were wounded, and their military equipment, including tanks, weapons and vehicles, was either captured or destroyed. Seven Wagnerites and Malian soldiers were captured.
What you need to know about the Tuaregs
The Tuareg are an ethnic group living in the Sahara region, particularly in northern Mali. Their rebellion against the Malian junta government began in 2012, but was soon taken over by Islamist groups. In 2015, the rebels signed a peace deal with the Bamako government, but withdrew from the talks in late 2022. The Wagner Group is also involved in the confrontation with the Tuareg.
It should be noted that on July 28, 2024, Tuareg rebels reported that they had killed dozens of government soldiers and Russian mercenaries from Wagner in a battle near the border with Algeria.
GUR representative Andrey Yusov reported that Ukrainian intelligence was involved in the defeat of the “Wagnerites”. Later, he also noted that in addition to operations to destroy Russian mercenaries in Sudan, Syria and Mali, other operations are being carried out, information about which has not yet been made public, and new events are being prepared.
Meanwhile, Western analysts report that the defeat of the Wagnerites could be the reason for the withdrawal of Russian troops from part of Ukrainian territory, since the African contingent needs to be replenished.