Russian mercenaries operating in Mali under the Africa Corps banner have sustained heavy losses following armed clashes with the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) near the Anomalen area in the Aguel-hoc region, according to multiple regional and defense sources.
The fighting reportedly began when FLA fighters ambushed a convoy of Russian personnel, destroying several vehicles and killing an undisclosed number of mercenaries. Local reports indicate that the Russian fighters were traveling with military equipment when they came under coordinated fire.
The Africa Corps is a Kremlin-directed successor to the Wagner Group, operating under the direct control of Russia’s Ministry of Defense. The group’s deployment in Mali is part of Moscow’s broader effort to expand military and political influence across the Sahel. Unlike Wagner, whose operations were often unofficial and deniable, Africa Corps personnel act under the Russian state’s formal authority.
There are also emerging reports that a Russian Su-24 bomber crashed near Gao during the same period. A source at the scene confirmed the downing of a jet in the region, though official confirmation of its operator remains pending. Eyewitnesses described the aircraft as a Su-24 operated by Africa Corps.
The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) issued a statement on Friday claiming that one of its combat aircraft “returning from a mission in eastern Mali made an emergency landing in the river near Gao.” According to FAMa, both pilots were rescued and are receiving medical care, though the aircraft suffered “extensive damage.”
The Russian Su-24 has been in Mali since at least April 14, 2025. A Maxar Technologies satellite captured a Su-24M bomber stationed at Bamako’s military airport. The aircraft’s folded wings and fuselage matched known specifications for the Soviet-designed twin-seat bomber.
On May 20, Africa Corps posted photographs online showing a Su-24M cockpit, suggesting that the aircraft was operated by its personnel.
If confirmed, the crash would represent a rare instance of Russian fixed-wing aircraft loss in Africa.
The RAND Corporation recently released a study documenting the Africa Corps’ operational footprint, noting Russian mercenary presence in at least six African countries. However, not all former Wagner-linked operations have transitioned under the Africa Corps framework.
The report emphasized that by institutionalizing these operations under the Ministry of Defense, Russia has sacrificed the plausible deniability that Wagner once offered. “Moscow is now directly and publicly responsible for the Africa Corps’ actions,” the report said, citing the risk of international scrutiny over military failures and human rights abuses.
The incident in northern Mali highlights the growing volatility of the region, where Russian forces now find themselves entangled in long-standing local conflicts. The FLA, a Tuareg-led separatist movement, has opposed both the Malian government and foreign military presence in the north for over a decade.