EXCLUSIVE REPORTING — The column of Malian government soldiers and Russian mercenaries from the former Wagner Group was advancing through a shallow valley in the southern Sahara desert in late July, several hundred miles north of the legendary caravanserai of Timbuktu, when a roadside bomb exploded, halting the troops and their vehicles.
What followed was a three-day battle, pitting Tuareg separatists against the Malians and their Russian protectors near the town of Tinzaouaten. When a sandstorm prompted a retreat, the Malians and Russians stumbled into an ambush by an al-Qaeda-linked Islamic militia group known as the JNIM, which has cooperated with the Tuaregs. Scores of Wagner fighters and Malian soldiers were killed, and several more were captured.
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As tensions rise in remote regions around the world, the intricate dance between governments, militias, and international players continues to shape global security landscapes. The clash between Russian mercenaries, Malian soldiers, Tuareg separatists, and Islamic militia groups in the African desert serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of modern warfare and the challenges faced by those on the frontlines.
