Russian Mercenaries Suffer Huge Losses In Africa
- 27.04.2026, 7:37
The Kremlin is being knocked out of Mali.
Russia's "African Corps" is probably suffering one of the most sensitive defeats in Mali. According to some reports, it has been forced to retreat from the town of Kidal, almost captured by rebels and Islamists. It is the former unofficial capital of the Tuaregs, which the country's current authorities took with the support of Russian mercenaries in 2023. This weekend's events show that Russian support has not helped the government led by Assima Goita stabilize the country, writes The Agency.
Russian version
According to the African Corps' Telegram channel, a joint attack by Tuareg rebels from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Azawad and fighters from Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which is linked to al-Qaeda, began around 5:30 on Saturday.
According to African Corps, about 10,000 to 12,000 people participated in the attack. Attempts were made to seize the presidential palace, major cities of the country (Gao, Kidal, Kati and Sevare).
️The Defense Ministry accused Western and Ukrainian intelligence services of involvement in the attack and claimed success.
"Thanks to the courage and heroism of the servicemen of the African Corps of the Russian Armed Forces, it was possible to prevent the 'Syrian scenario' in Mali," the "African Corps" reported.
It estimated the militants' losses at more than 1,000 terrorists. On its losses, the "African Corps" reported only that there were wounded. The VGTRK Vesti.Ru website reported several wounded.
What's Really Going On
It's one of the largest coordinated Islamist-Tuareg attacks in recent years.
Even Russian unofficial sources report more significant losses for the African Corps. A helicopter was shot down, with the crew and mobile fire team killed, claims military blogger Fightbomber. A video of the alleged crash was published by Military Informant.
Military Informant also published footage of a burnt-out BTR-82A and an African Corps VP11 armored vehicle, as well as a Tornado-U armored truck captured by the militants.
The Tuareg reported the capture of the town of Kidal. A spokesman for the Azawad Liberation Front said an agreement had been reached to allow Russian mercenaries to leave their camp near the town. "Military Whistleblower" published several clips of Russian military vehicles driving past cheering Islamists without a fight.
At the same time, Mali's armed forces said in a statement that operations to repel rebel attacks were still ongoing, particularly in Kidal.
️In the attack, Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara was apparently killed in his residence near the main military base near Bamako.
What does it mean?"
If Camara's death is confirmed, it would come as a major shock to Mali's military leaders, said Jenabou Cisse, a research fellow at the Foundation for Strategic Studies. He was one of the architects of the course of rapprochement with Russia that Goita took after coming to power following the coups of 2020 and 2021.
The attack is a blow for Russia as well, says Ulf Lassing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. "For Russia, the attack was a disaster. They failed to prevent the fall of Kidal, a stronghold so symbolic for the Tuaregs, and now they have to leave this northern town."