Rebels and jihadists attacked positions of Russia's African Corps in Mali

Tuareg rebels. Illustrative photo

In Mali, rebels and jihadists carried out a series of attacks on army positions and pro-government forces. The cities of Anefis, Aguelhok, and Gao in the north of the country, Sévaré and the Kona district in central Mali, as well as a prison in Keniéroba south of the capital Bamako, were targeted, writes The Insider.

The main target was Anefis in the Kidal region. It hosts positions of the Malian army and Russian fighters of the "African Corps," who support the military junta in Bamako. After a previous major offensive in April, Malian and Russian forces retreated to Anefis from Kidal and Tessalit.

Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadan, a representative of the Tuareg "Azawad Liberation Front," claims that the group's fighters have entered Anefis. Le Monde quotes him as saying that the "Azawad Liberation Front" controls the city, but Malian and Russian military personnel remain in their camp. France 24, citing a local official, also writes that the rebels have taken control of Anefis, and Russian fighters have "dug in at the camp."

There is no independent confirmation of the full capture of Anefis yet. The Malian army stated that all attacks were repelled, and the situation is "completely under control." According to its version, 20 attackers were killed in Sévaré, and another six in Gao; one pro-government fighter died and four were wounded. Russia's "African Corps" also claims that its units, along with the Malian army, are repelling the attacks.

The Telegram channel "Afrikaar" admits that militants entered the city limits of Anefis. However, the channel claims that they failed to capture a key object — the military base west of the city, and that in Gao, Sévaré, and Aguelhok, the attacks were repelled or limited to shelling.

Responsibility for the attacks was effectively claimed by two forces. The first is the "Azawad Liberation Front," a Tuareg separatist group seeking independence for northern Mali. The second is "Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin," al-Qaeda's affiliate in the Sahel. According to Reuters, the first claimed to have attacked and captured at least seven army positions or pro-government forces, but this statement has also not been independently confirmed.

After breaking with France and other Western partners, Mali's military junta made Moscow one of its main external military allies. Russia's "African Corps" replaced PMC "Wagner" and helps the Malian army hold territories, fight jihadists, and suppress Tuareg separatists.

Anefis is of strategic importance as it is one of the last strongholds of the Malian army and Russian forces in the Kidal region after the April rebel offensive.

Le Monde notes that the loss of the city would be a serious blow to the junta: Anefis is located on the route to Gao and Timbuktu, two of the largest cities in northern Mali.

The current offensive is a continuation of the April escalation, when the "Azawad Liberation Front" and "Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin" already carried out a major joint operation, attacking several cities, including Bamako. Moscow claimed it would continue to support the Malian authorities.

• 4
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0