[Task Completed: Wagner Group Announces Withdrawal from Mali]
On June 6, the Telegram channel "Разгрузка Вагнера," closely linked to the Wagner Group, reported that the private military company Wagner announced the completion of its main mission in Mali and will withdraw from the country.
The article stated that over the past three and a half years, mercenaries have fought shoulder to shoulder with the people of Mali to combat terrorism, eliminating thousands of armed militants and their leaders who had long terrorized civilians. They also helped local patriots build a strong disciplined force capable of defending the homeland. The core goal has been achieved — all regional capitals have returned under the control of the legitimate government. Mission completed. The Wagner Group is about to return home.
Media first reported in September 2021 that Wagner was recruiting mercenaries in Mali. Following Colonel Assimi Goita's coup, more than five thousand French troops stationed in Mali withdrew. According to Western media reports, these mercenaries were responsible for training the Malian army and protecting senior officials. Although the Russian Foreign Ministry acknowledged the existence of an agreement, it insisted that the Russian government was not involved.
The Wall Street Journal once reported that in the summer of 2024, there was a fierce battle between the Tuareg rebels and the Malian government forces and Wagner personnel. The latter fell into an ambush, with different sources reporting 20 to 80 casualties among the mercenaries, marking one of the most severe losses for Russian mercenaries in Africa.
Original Article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1834195223906304/
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