Exclusive: Wagner lost veteran fighters in Mali ambush, in setback to Russia's Africa campaign

Russian Wagner mercenaries, including veterans of conflicts in Ukraine, Libya, and Syria, suffered significant losses in a battle with Tuareg rebels during a desert storm in Mali in July.

The clash, near Tinzaouaten, resulted in the presumed deaths of many experienced fighters, exposing the risks faced by Russian forces in the Sahel region.

The loss casts doubt on Russia’s ability to succeed where Western and UN troops have struggled. Wagner's new Africa Corps, formed after Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death, is now a key player in the region.

The group faces challenges in retaining and deploying its personnel effectively amid ongoing conflicts and instability.