- – Russian Paramilitaries Involved
BAMAKO, MALI—A devastating militant attack in central Mali has left at least 25 civilians dead, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the country’s ongoing struggle with insurgency. The assault, which occurred on February 8, 2025, targeted a convoy of vehicles escorted by Malian military forces and Russian paramilitaries, underscoring the volatile security situation in the Sahel region. The victims, mostly gold miners, were ambushed near the town of Niono in the Ségou region, a known hotspot for militant activity.
The convoy, comprising approximately 60 vehicles, was en route to a gold mining site when it came under heavy fire from unidentified gunmen. According to Colonel Major Souleymane Dembélé, a spokesman for Mali’s military, the attackers used a combination of small arms and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), killing 25 civilians and wounding dozens more. Several soldiers and Russian fighters were also reportedly injured, though exact casualty figures for the military and paramilitary personnel remain unclear. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion has fallen on Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda’s regional affiliate, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), and factions of the Islamic State group, both of which have a strong presence in the area.
The involvement of Russian paramilitaries—believed to be members of the Wagner Group or its successor, the Africa Corps—has drawn significant attention. Since 2021, Russian fighters have been a key component of Mali’s counterinsurgency strategy, filling the void left by the withdrawal of French forces and UN peacekeepers. The Malian junta, which seized power in a 2020 coup, has leaned heavily on Russian support, including military training and equipment. However, this partnership has been fraught with challenges. In July 2024, a similar ambush near the Algerian border killed dozens of Wagner fighters and Malian soldiers, exposing the risks of relying on foreign mercenaries in a complex and fragmented conflict.
Mali’s security crisis is part of a broader insurgency that has destabilized the Sahel for over a decade. Since 2012, when Tuareg separatists and Islamist militants seized northern Mali, the country has been locked in a cycle of violence. Despite international interventions, including a French-led operation from 2013 to 2022 and a UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSMA) that ended in 2023, the conflict has only intensified. JNIM and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) have expanded their reach, exploiting ethnic tensions and local grievances to recruit fighters and launch attacks. The UN estimates that over 9,000 people have been killed and 2 million displaced across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger since 2020.
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The latest attack further shows the deteriorating situation in central Mali, where militant groups have increasingly targeted civilians and infrastructure. Gold mining, a critical source of income for local communities, has become a focal point of violence. Militants often extort miners or attack convoys to disrupt economic activity and undermine government control. Mali’s artisanal gold sector, which employs over 400,000 people and produces 70% of the country’s gold, is particularly vulnerable. In 2023, gold accounted for 25% of Mali’s GDP and 80% of its export revenue, making it a strategic target for insurgents.
The presence of Russian paramilitaries has added a contentious dimension to the conflict. Wagner, now rebranded as the Africa Corps under Russian state control, has been accused of human rights abuses and exacerbating tensions. A January 2025 report by the civil society group Kal Akal accused Malian forces and Russian fighters of killing nine civilians, including women and children, during a raid in the Ségou region. The group claimed the victims were mistaken for militants, a charge the Malian military denied. Russian fighters have also been implicated in the destruction of civilian property and summary executions, according to Human Rights Watch, which documented 18 such incidents between 2022 and 2024.
Critics argue that the junta’s reliance on Russian support has not yielded the promised security gains. Since the coup, militant attacks have surged, with civilian casualties rising by 38% in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). The military’s focus on high-profile operations, often alongside Russian forces, has left rural areas exposed, allowing militants to operate with impunity. The junta’s expulsion of French troops and UN peacekeepers, coupled with its rejection of Western aid, has further isolated Mali, leaving it dependent on Moscow’s military and economic backing.
The international response to the crisis has been muted. France, once Mali’s primary security partner, has redirected its resources to other Sahel countries like Niger and Burkina Faso, both of which face similar insurgencies. The United States, while designating JNIM as a terrorist organization, has limited its involvement to drone strikes and intelligence sharing. The African Union (AU) has urged Mali to return to civilian rule and engage in dialogue with separatist groups, but its influence remains limited. A February 2025 AU report warned that the Sahel’s instability could spill over into coastal West African states, threatening regional trade and migration routes.
The attack has also reignited domestic debates over the junta’s leadership. Colonel Assimi Goïta, who led the 2020 coup, has struggled to consolidate power amid growing public frustration. The junta’s promises of stability and economic recovery have largely gone unfulfilled, with inflation soaring to 12% in 2024 and basic services like electricity and water becoming increasingly scarce. Protests in Bamako, the capital, have been met with tear gas and arrests, further eroding the junta’s legitimacy. Opposition leaders have called for a return to constitutional rule, but elections, initially scheduled for 2022, have been postponed indefinitely.
For now, the conflict shows no signs of abating. The military’s reliance on Russian paramilitaries, while providing short-term firepower, has not addressed the root causes of the insurgency—poverty, marginalization, and weak governance. Analysts warn that without a comprehensive strategy that includes local peacebuilding and economic development, Mali risks descending further into chaos. As one Western diplomat put it, “The junta’s bet on Russia was a gamble. And right now, it’s not paying off.”