Russian state-run paramilitary force
Appears in 2 stories
Positioned at Anefis; escorted 800+ tanker fuel convoy into Bamako on May 1 under helicopter cover; denied JNIM's claim of seizing Hombori, stating it resupplied Malian troops there and evacuated wounded by helicopter; continuing operations in northern Mali
Eleven days after Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) rebels and al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) struck five Malian cities simultaneously on April 25, 2026, President Assimi Goïta is governing without either a functioning intelligence service or an independent defence ministry. On May 4 he resolved the latter vacancy by assuming the defence portfolio himself by presidential decree — naming Army Chief of Staff General Oumar Diarra as minister delegate — more than a week after the car-bomb assassination of predecessor Sadio Camara. Simultaneously, a military tribunal opened a criminal probe into the April 25 attacks and identified five suspects, including three active-duty soldiers, while also accusing exiled politician Oumar Mariko of involvement in the planning. In the days that followed, security forces abducted several critics and lawyers — including prominent Bamako lawyer Mountaga Tall, seized from his home by hooded men on May 2 — prompting Amnesty International to call for his immediate release and the UN human rights office to warn of 'gravely concerning' reports of extrajudicial killings by Malian security forces.
Updated May 6
Deployed in Niger since April 2024
Armed men on motorcycles attacked Niger's main airport and military air base outside Niamey on January 29, 2026, triggering a firefight that left 20 attackers dead and 4 security personnel wounded. Military ruler Abdourahamane Tiani immediately accused France, Benin, and Ivory Coast of sponsoring the assault—offering no evidence. The next day, the Islamic State – Sahel Province claimed responsibility through its Amaq News Agency, directly contradicting the junta's allegations. Benin's government rejected Tiani's claims. A uranium stockpile moved from a French-controlled mine sat nearby, reportedly unaffected.
Updated Feb 5
No stories match your search
Try a different keyword
How would you like to describe your experience with the app today?
