INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
against rebel forces in recent days.The rebel movement, the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP-PSD),
prisoners.AFP cited a local official and a former worker at the UN mission in the town of Kidal as saying that at least 15 Wagner fighters
It added that the last radio message it received from the assault detachment involved in the fighting came on Saturday.According to Wagner,
to have been killed.The Baza Telegram news channel, which has purported links to Russian security services, previouslyreported that at least
20 Wagner fighters were killed in the fighting
2020 coup, have prioritized retaking all of the country from separatist and jihadist forces, particularly in the town of Kidal
Russia.Large-scale fighting broke out on Thursday between the army and separatists in the border town of Tinzaouatene after the Mali army
announced it had retaken control of several districts
The district is almost entirely surrounded by Algerian territory and has been at the heart of other battles between separatist forces and
the national army over the past decade.AFP reported over the weekend that it received videos from a separatist spokesman, showing several
bodies lying on the ground that were believed to be those of Wagner mercenaries and army soldiers.The Malian army rarely reports on its
losses and pressure from the ruling junta along with armed groups has silenced most independent sources of information in the areas of
fighting.Wagner resumed recruiting fighters for deployment in Africa after the death of its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in August 2023
According to Baza, the Wagner fighters killed and captured in Mali had been stationed there since 2021.AFP contributed reporting.
