Tuareg separatists from the FLA, alongside Al-Qaeda-linked JNIM militants, attacked a reinforcement convoy near Tabankort in northern Mali on Thursday morning. The convoy, made up of dozens of vehicles with air cover, was 90% Russian Africa Corps mercenaries and Malian soldiers, headed to relieve a besieged camp at Anefis, about 100km south of Kidal.
FLA spokesperson Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane confirmed the clash: “Our troops engaged in combat this Thursday near Tabankort against the reinforcement force, which is 90 percent Russian mercenaries.” Fighting was still underway as of Thursday. This is the second reinforcement convoy ambushed in a week, after a first Gao-based column was hit the previous Sunday. Russian and Malian troops remain holed up at Anefis. The FLA and JNIM captured Kidal two months ago, killing Mali’s defense minister in the process.
Source: France 24, Arab News, Kyiv Post
So What
Russia’s Africa strategy is looking shakier by the week. They’re likely still extracting gold and other resources from the juntas they prop up, but they’re increasingly unable to protect their own mercenaries on the ground. Two ambushed convoys in a week is not a good pattern. It’s also possible this drains resources Moscow would rather keep pointed at Ukraine, even if the numbers involved are too small to matter much there. Worth watching whether Africa Corps scales back exposure in the Sahel or doubles down.
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