The Russian -backed Vagner Group says it will leave Mali, but the African Corps will remain

the Wagner Group supported by Russia He said on Friday that he left Mali more than three and a half years after the fighting of Islamic extremists and extending in the country.

Despite the declaration of Wagner, Russia will continue to have mercenaries in the country of West Africa. The Corps of Africa, the state -controlled paramilitary force, said on a telegram channel on Friday that the departure of Wagner will not make any changes and that the Russian unity will remain in Mali.

Wagner It is a group of entities that operate as a private military company, or PMC. This PMCS can be set by governments for security or combat services.

“The mission has been completed. The private military company returns to the house.” She said that she brought all regional capitals under control of the financial army, pushed the militants and killed their leaders.

Mali, along with the neighbors, Burkina Faso and Niger, for more than a decade, a rebellion fought by armed groups, including some allies with al -Qaeda and the Islamic State Group.

As the western influence in the region declined, Russia has sought to enter the void, as it is sweeping help offers. Moscow initially expanded its military cooperation with African countries using a Vagner group of mercenaries. But since the group leader, Yevgeny Prigzhin, He was He was killed in a plane crash in 2023After the escalation of a brief armed rebellion in Russia, President Vladimir Putin challenged, Moscow is developing the African Corps as a competing force for Agener.

Africa Corps is subject to the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

According to American officials, there are about 2000 mercenaries in Mali. It is not clear how much they are with Wagner and how many are part of the African Corps.

Beverly Ocing, a security analyst specializing in the coast consultations for control of control, said the Russian Ministry of Defense was negotiating with Mali to take over more of the African and Fernner mercenary elected fighters to join Russia’s paramilitary control.

“Since the death of Briguzin, Russia has had this entire plan to make the Wagner Group fall under the leadership of the Ministry of Defense. One of the steps they took is to renew or present the African Corps, the way Ochinig will keep, the way Ocing works.

Wagner has been present in Mali since late 2021 after a military coup, to replace French forces and Africa international peace to help fight militants. But the Russian financial army and mercenaries struggled to reduce violence in the country and both accused of targeting civilians.

Last month, United Nations experts urged financial authorities to investigate reports on alleged brief executions and enforced disappearance by Vagner mercenaries and the army.

In December, Human Rights Watch accused the armed armed forces and the Wagner Group of killing at least 32 civilians over the course of 8 months.

The announcement of the withdrawal of Wagner at a time when the Russian financial army and mercenaries have suffered heavy losses during the Al -Qaeda group’s attacks in recent weeks.

Last week, Jinim fighters killed dozens of soldiers in an attack on a military base in central Mali.

Rida Limori, a coast expert at the Center for Politics in Morocco in New South, said the main losses may have caused the end of Wagner’s mission.

He said: “The lack of an official and mutual declaration by both the financial authorities and Agener refers to the possible internal conflict that led to this sudden decision. At the same time, this may indicate a new framework for the Russian presence in the country.”

ULF Lassing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer, said that Wagner’s replacement with the African Corps forces is likely to turn Russia’s focus in Mali fighting alongside the financial army for training.

“The African Corps has a lighter fingerprint and focuses more on training, providing equipment and protecting protection services. They are fighting less than” Rambo “mercenaries than” Vagin “,” said Lesing.