Investigative report: Wagner operations in Mali have angered the army and caused security breaches
A report prepared by the investigative research group The Sentry revealed that “the operations of Russian private mercenaries in Mali have sparked discontent within the country’s army and government, and have caused security breaches”.
The report, published Wednesday under the title “The Collapse of Mercenaries: The Failure of the Wagner Group in Mali,” cited Malian soldiers as saying that Wagner fighters “often operated outside the chain of command,” using military equipment and carrying out security operations without prior authorization or notice.
The 55-page report, which included interviews with officials from the military, financial intelligence, and the country’s finance and mining ministries, explained that “Wagner also caused problems for the military and the government it was used to support”.
The report stated that the missions assigned to Wagner sometimes resulted in the loss of equipment, vehicles, or personnel, and that at other times, Malian soldiers were suddenly left without combat equipment when rebel attacks occurred.
According to the report, Malian soldiers’ resentment Russian mercenaries who receive preferential treatment, such as medical evacuations, which are often limited due to fuel scarcity.
The Sentry investigators as saying that the recent arrests in Mali following a coup attempt came after a meeting between two generals and several colonels to discuss grievances, including the apparent continued presence of Russians in command positions at the military bases where they operate.
The Russian Wagner Group began operations in Mali after the military junta that seized power following two coups in 2020 and 2021 ousted French and UN forces.
Wagner announced its withdrawal from Mali last June, but the African Corps, a military force under Kremlin control, confirmed its continued presence in the country.
This corps, deployed in several African countries, consists of approximately 70 to 80% of the Wagner Group.
Human rights organizations, including the New York-based Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly accused the Wagner Group of committing “atrocities against civilians” in Mali.
