A convoy transporting Malian soldiers and fighters from Russia's paramilitary Africa Corps was attacked in northern Mali on Thursday, with separatist fighters claiming responsibility. The attack comes amid intensified fighting between the two sides since an April operation by Al Qaeda affiliate JNIM and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).

The April operation killed Mali's then-defense minister and struck the capital Bamako's airport. The convoy was carrying over 200 Russian fighters and more than 100 Malian soldiers, according to a security source cited by Reuters. It was heading toward the northern town of Anefis, where fighting is reportedly ongoing.

AFP quoted a Malian security source saying a convoy of 'dozens of vehicles with air cover' fell into 'another ambush.' FLA spokesperson Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane told AFP that 'our troops engaged in combat this Thursday near Tabankort against the reinforcement force, which is composed 90% of Russian mercenaries and Malian soldiers.'

The FLA rebels claimed control of Anefis, a crucial location for maintaining a grip on the northern town of Kidal, which the group captured alongside JNIM in April. However, Russian paramilitaries and Malian soldiers remained in control of a military camp in Anefis, AFP reported.

The attack follows coordinated assaults by JNIM and FLA on Saturday that hit another military convoy and other positions across Mali. Mali has been plagued by insurgencies since 2012, but two back-to-back military coups in 2020 and 2021 and support from Russia's Africa Corps have thus far failed to quell the unrest.

Source: www.dw.com