Russia is seeking to defend its position in Mali after a weekend of violence exposed the limits of its military influence in West Africa. Moscow claims its Africa Corps helped prevent a coup in Mali after intense clashes with rebel groups. However, conflicting accounts have cast doubt on that claim. While Russia insists its troops held off insurgents in Kidal and avoided major civilian harm, local sources suggest they negotiated a withdrawal instead. The unrest has been severe, with rebels launching attacks near Bamako and killing Defense Minister Sadio Camara. Despite the loss of Kidal, the Kremlin remains defiant, alleging that the rebels—comprising a rare alliance between JNIM jihadists and FLA separatists—were trained by European mercenaries.
The Guardian
