Bamako – At least three soldiers and four Russian paramilitaries were killed when jihadists ambushed their convoy in central Mali, security and local sources told AFP Tuesday.
The assault, which occurred Sunday, comes amid a surge in attacks by jihadists from the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).
“A convoy consisting mainly of Africa Corps personnel was ambushed near Niono, in the Segou region”, a security source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Paramilitaries from Russia’s Africa Corps are assisting Mali’s ruling junta in fighting the jihadists.
The junta, which came to power in two successive coups in 2020 and 2021, has turned its back on Western partners and moved closer to Russia, both militarily and politically.
According to the same source, “seven soldiers, including at least four Russians and some Malian troops were killed” in the attack.
[🇲🇱MALI]
Le 28 septembre, le JNIM aurait attaqué un convoi de l’armée malienne et de l’Africa Corps près de Niono, dans la région de Ségou.
Le bilan provisoire fait état de 3 combattants russes auraient été tués et 4 blessés, ainsi que des soldats maliens tués en nombre non… pic.twitter.com/12ImmTVsgc
— Eye Think (@EyeThink_) September 29, 2026
A local elected official in the area confirmed the death toll of seven to AFP, adding that four wounded Russians received first aid at a community health centre.
Two other sources confirmed the attack but did not specify a death toll.
One local resident told AFP that “unusual activity” had occurred around the health centre, adding that “we couldn’t get close but according to reports, wounded Russian soldiers were being treated there. A helicopter later airlifted them out”.
JNIM on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the attack.
Neither the Malian army nor Africa Corps has issued a statement on casualties or equipment loss. However the army acknowledged that one of its convoys had been attacked near Niono.
Mali has been wracked since 2012 by a serious security crisis, notably fuelled by violence from jihadists allied to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group, along with criminal gangs and armed separatists.
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Source: AFP
