Wagner PMC still exists and is now sowing death in Mali
11 March 14:25
Russian mercenaries of the Wagner PMC, together with soldiers of the Malian army, are waging a campaign of terror in Mali, which has caused a large-scale humanitarian crisis and a wave of refugees to neighboring Mauritania. The civilian population has been subjected to brutal attacks, including massacres, village burnings, and violence against women. This is reported by The Washington Post, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
It is noted that after the military coup of 2020, the Malian junta began to cooperate with the Wagner PMC, inviting it to fight Tuareg separatists and Islamist groups. However, as the article argues, the main victims of the Russian mercenaries’ actions were civilians, whom they viewed as potential terrorists.
Local residents who are forced to flee the violence tell of terrible crimes. One of them, Kossi ag Mohamed, said that his home village in the Timbuktu region was completely destroyed, and that Wagner only brought “disaster.” Witnesses reported mass shootings, beheadings and torture of civilians.
On behalf of the Russian state
According to analysts, Russian mercenaries operate in Mali as an extension of the Russian Defense Ministry, providing the Kremlin with a source of income and the opportunity to expand its influence in the region. For its services, the Wagner PMC receives about $10 million a month from the Malian authorities and controls a number of gold mines in the country.
According to analysts, Wagner is increasingly strengthening its position in northern Mali, particularly after the capture of the city of Kidal in 2023. Russian propaganda channels have also been reporting more frequently on the mercenaries’ successes in the region, and new satellite images show the expansion of their bases in the capital Bamako.
According to ACLED expert Heni Nsaybia, Wagner’s methods in Mali can be characterized as a “kill all” policy. Mercenaries attack civilian convoys, markets and settlements, taking the lives of men, women and children.
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Masters of genocide
ACLED estimates that in 2023, at least 925 civilians were killed by Wagner attacks, more than twice the number of deaths from Islamist militants. The researchers note that the brutality of the Malian army’s actions has increased dramatically since the arrival of Russian mercenaries.
Numerous cases of torture, abductions and violence against women have been confirmed. One of the refugees, Aisatou Kelly, described an attack on her village when armed masked men broke into her house, beat her and demanded information about her husband. Another woman reported that several villagers were abducted and the rest were executed or expelled.
As a result of Wagner’s actions, the flow of refugees to Mauritania reached record levels. In Mbera camp alone, there are currently about 149,000 people, which is three times more than in 2023. People arrive to save their lives, but even in the camps they do not feel safe.
Despite the statements of the Malian authorities about the fight against terrorism, numerous testimonies indicate that the alliance between the army and Wagner has become the main threat to civilians. The article emphasizes that the violence continues, and the situation in the region is deteriorating every day.
Wagner PMC: a dossier
The Wagner PMC is a private military company, an international criminal and terrorist organization that has actually become one of the main instruments of Russian aggression, particularly in Ukraine. The company is known for its brutal and uncompromising tactics, including mass killings of civilians, terrorist acts, and war crimes.
Wagner’s military were active participants in the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2022-2023, taking part in major offensive operations such as the assault on Bakhmut.
In June 2023, the alleged conflict between Wagner and the Kremlin reached its climax when Wagner leader Yevhen Prigozhin, who was closely linked to Putin, led a failed uprising attempt, marching on Moscow with his units. This event became a symbol not only of internal divisions within the Russian government, but also a reflection of how Wagner was slipping out of the Kremlin’s control. Shortly thereafter, Prigozhin and other Wagner leaders were killed in a plane crash.
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