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Russia’s Shadow Army Ambushed in Mali: Tuareg Rebels Hit “Africa Corps” Convoy
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
A Russian military convoy operating under the Ministry of Defense’s so-called “Africa Corps” was ambushed near the town of Ménaka in northeastern Mali, resulting in the deaths of several personnel and the seizure of a military vehicle.
According to Butusov Plus on Telegram, the attack was carried out by Tuareg insurgents during the convoy’s movement through territory contested by local armed groups. The vehicle targeted in the ambush was later captured by the attackers.
Local sources cited by Butusov Plus report that at least five Russian soldiers were killed in the incident. The group allegedly responsible is linked to the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), a Tuareg-led separatist organization operating in Mali’s north.
The ambush is the latest in a series of attacks targeting Russian units in the region. The so-called “Africa Corps” is considered the institutional successor to Wagner Group formations previously active in Mali. The Russian contingent has been involved in both security operations and counterinsurgency efforts, often in support of the country’s military junta.
Northern Mali remains a zone of instability, with control of key towns and routes frequently shifting between state-backed forces, separatists, and jihadist factions.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service reported that Russia had intensified its information campaigns in Africa by launching Russian language initiatives that function as propaganda tools.
In December, Cairo hosted the first meeting of the Pan-African Association of Teachers of Russian Language and Literature, backed by Russian state actors and linked to broader efforts by the FSB-led “African Initiative” to expand pro-Kremlin narratives across the continent.
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