Description: The Malian military clashed with the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), formed in 2024 as a result of a coalition between several fractions of Tuareg rebels, which left 10 separatists dead, more than 20 vehicles destroyed, and several army soldiers wounded. Reports indicated that the Malian army was supported by the Moscow – backed Africa Corps group, which remained in country after the private military company Wagner announced its departure. The clashes follow a week – long small – scale kinetic confrontations between the warring groups in the junta – led Mali which is beleaguered by offshoots and other separatist fractions from larger terrorist groups such as Al – Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Impact: Mali is one of the Sahel states under heavy pressure and constant insurgencies by terrorist groups and their offshoots. The region has recently experienced a larger upsurge in violence ever since the Russian sponsored Wagner group and its mercenaries announced their departure from the region and the junta – led government struggled to consolidate power across larger swathes of territory. Russia has vested interests in the Sahel where the Kremlin keeps close ties with the junta – led governments from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, especially concerning the vast potential of natural resources such as minerals, oil and gas. The armed confrontations, in absence of a dominant player such as Wagner in the region, are expected to escalate across the tri-territorial Sahel region potentially leading to isolated conflict zones which could easily spread across the region.