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Russia Says It Will Maintain Military Presence in Mali
Russia has rejected demands from Tuareg separatists to withdraw its forces from Mali following coordinated attacks that forced a retreat from a northern town. The assaults, involving jihadist groups and rebels, resulted in the death of Mali's defense minister and seizures of key locations. A Kremlin spokesperson affirmed continued support for Mali's military rulers in combating extremism.
May 2, 2:44 PM·2m read3 sources
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Russia stated it will keep its military forces in Mali and continue supporting the country's junta, despite calls from Tuareg separatists for a withdrawal after recent attacks. The announcement came after surprise offensives last weekend that compelled Russian troops to pull out of Kidal, a strategic northern town they had helped the Malian army recapture in 2023.
Alongside jihadist forces linked to Al-Qaeda, Tuareg rebels launched coordinated attacks across Mali, seizing two northern cities and killing the defense minister in an explosion at his residence outside Bamako. A spokesperson for the FLA stated that the rebels intend to take control of additional strongholds, including Gao and Timbuktu, and predicted the regime's fall.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia remains in Mali at the request of local authorities and will persist in fighting extremism and terrorism.
“Russia will continue, including in Mali, to fight against extremism, terrorism and other negative manifestations. And it will continue to provide assistance to the current authorities.”
Russia's Africa Corps, which succeeded the Wagner group after its founder's death in 2023, provides key backing to Mali's military government, in power since 2020.
Mali's junta leader Assimi Goita attended a ceremony honoring the slain defense minister, joined by defense ministers from Niger and Burkina Faso, members of the Alliance of Sahel States. The defense minister, who had military training in Russia, was seen as instrumental in shifting Mali's alliances toward Moscow and away from France.
