Author: MARK BANCHEREAU Associated Press, ABC News
Published on: 06/06/2025 | 21:01:19
AI Summary:
Russia-backed Wagner Group says it is leaving Mali after more than three and a half years of fighting Islamic extremists and insurgents. The Africa Corps, Russia’s state-controlled paramilitary force, said Friday that Wagner’s departure would not introduce any changes. "Mission accomplished. Private Military Company Wagner returns home," the group announced via its channel on Telegram. Russian defense ministry has been negotiating with Mali to take on more Africa Corps fighters and for Wagner mercenaries to join Russia’s state-controlled paramilitary force. A step they made was to revamp or introduce the African Corps, which is the way in which the Russian paramilitons would retain a presence in areas where the Wagner group has been operating. In December, Human Rights Watch accused Malian forces and the Wagner Group of deliberately killing at least 32 civilians over an 8-month span. Replacing Wagner with Africa Corps troops would likely shift Russia's focus in Mali from fighting alongside the Malian army to training. "Africa Corps has a lighter footprint and focuses more on training, providing equipment and doing protection services," Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program.
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