A Russian paramilitary group has carried out a series of air strikes against rebel forces approaching Mali's capital, Bamako, according to verified video footage. The attacks came in response to a major rebel offensive that killed the country's Defense Minister, Sadio Camara, over the weekend.
The Kremlin-controlled Africa Corps, which backs Mali's military junta, released videos showing attack helicopters and drones striking rebel pick-up trucks on a highway near the town of Kati, just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Bamako. The strikes mark a sharp escalation in a conflict that has simmered for over a decade.
Despite the show of force, the paramilitary confirmed it has withdrawn from its base in Kidal, a strategic town in northern Mali. Verified footage shows rebel fighters roaming the abandoned base, with armored vehicles and equipment left behind in the hasty retreat.
"This is a major escalation in the conflict," said Jean-Hervé Jezequel, Sahel director for the International Crisis Group. "The rebels are now targeting major cities, not just rural areas."
On Saturday, a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the defense minister's residence in Kati, leveling the property and killing Camara. Satellite images confirm the devastation. The Africa Corps responded with airstrikes, but analysts question the effectiveness of the mercenary force, which numbers around 2,500 troops.
The Africa Corps, which replaced the Wagner Group in Mali, provides security services in exchange for access to natural resources. Dr. Sorcha MacLeod, a former UN mercenary expert, called the arrangement unsustainable and warned that other nations hiring the group would take note of its struggles.
Mali's military, which seized power in 2020, has faced growing pressure from jihadist and separatist groups. The latest attacks suggest a coordinated effort to challenge the government's control, with fighting reported in at least seven locations since Saturday.