Overview
- Dozens of refugees who fled to the Mauritanian border told AP that Africa Corps fighters working with Mali’s army carried out killings, rapes, beheadings and mutilations.
- Witnesses described villages burned and bodies with organs removed, and local leaders called the campaign a scorched-earth policy indistinguishable from Wagner’s past tactics.
- Africa Corps replaced Wagner about six months ago as conflict intensified, with analysts and monitors noting an escalation in operations after a fuel blockade in September.
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry has acknowledged the unit’s presence in Mali and listed tasks such as escorts and search-and-rescue operations, while Mali’s government has not publicly recognized the force.
- Experts estimate roughly 2,000 personnel with mixed nationalities and warn that restricted access hinders verification, as legal scholars argue the Defense Ministry link could make Russia directly liable for any crimes.