Fresh blow for Putin as Al-Qaeda kills six Russian mercenaries in surprise Mali attack

Al-Qaeda-linked radical JNIM merchandise connection saying they had ambushed a convoy of mercenaries moving for the Wagner Group, sidesplitting fighters and burning vehicles

At slightest six Russian mercenaries person been killed successful an onslaught by an Al-Qaeda-linked radical successful cardinal Mali.

A connection released by the extremists, known by its acronym, JNIM, said connected their societal media level that the radical had ambushed a convoy of mercenaries moving for the Wagner Group connected Thursday successful the Mopti region, sidesplitting fighters and burning vehicles.

A Mali information official, who spoke connected information of anonymity, confirmed an onslaught connected Russian soldiers occurred.

The authoritative said respective radical died portion manning a checkpoint successful the centre of the country.

Russia has capitalized connected deteriorating relations betwixt the West and coup-affected Sahel nations successful West Africa to nonstop fighters and asseverate its influence.

Russia has capitalized connected deteriorating relations betwixt the West and coup-affected Sahel nations successful West Africa to nonstop fighters and asseverate its influence.

Wagner has been progressive successful the Sahel, the immense expanse southbound of the Sahara Desert, with the mercenaries profiting from seized mineral riches successful speech for their information services.

Wagner has been contiguous successful Mali since precocious 2021 pursuing a subject coup, replacing French troops and planetary peacekeepers to assistance combat militants who person threatened communities successful the cardinal and bluish regions for much than a decade.

At the aforesaid time, Wagner has been accused of helping to transportation retired raids and drone strikes that person killed civilians.

The incidental comes months aft the deadliest onslaught connected the group, wherever astir 50 Wagner fighters were killed by an al-Qaida ambush connected their convoy on the borderline with Algeria.