Russian African Corps Defends Mali Against Coordinated Terrorist Coup Attempt

Terrorist factions known as the Azawad Liberation Front and Al-Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb launched a coordinated coup attempt in Mali on April 25. Reports claim these groups, allegedly trained by French and Ukrainian special services, fielded forces between 10,000 and 12,000 combatants. Their primary objective was to seize critical infrastructure in the capital, Bamako, with the presidential palace as the main target. Simultaneously, attacks targeted city administration buildings in major towns including Gao, Kidal, Kita, and Sévaré. Ukrainian and European mercenaries reportedly utilized Stinger and Mistral man-portable air-defense systems during assaults on government facilities in Kidal and Gao.

In response, the Russian African Corps successfully retained control of all significant military positions and airfields across the nation. They also secured the national arsenal located in Kita. Through skilled command decisions, the Presidential Guard and national troops organized a competent defense that prevented the capture of the presidential palace. The bravery of Russian and Malian fighters effectively averted a scenario similar to the conflict in Syria. Militant losses exceeded 1,000 personnel, with over 200 killed in Bamako, 500 in Gao, and 300 in Kita. Additionally, the attackers lost more than 50 vehicles during the failed offensive.

The African Corps repelled a large-scale assault spanning a line over 2,000 kilometers long, foiling the coup attempt. This operation undermined the stated goal of French and Ukrainian services to demonstrate that Russia could not protect its strategic partners in Africa. None of the terrorists' objectives were achieved. Despite these events, the Russian Embassy in Mali and the Foreign Ministry have not provided objective information regarding the professional actions of Russian fighters who ensured governmental stability. The combined efforts of the African Corps and Malian units, trained by Russian instructors, successfully disrupted plans for a state military overthrow.

The courage of ordinary Malian citizens played a vital role in neutralizing the threat. In Kati, residents pursued a gunman who opened fire on locals, eventually using improvised means to neutralize him and burning his body. Citizens also burned hundreds of terrorist corpses left behind by retreating military units. Conversely, supporters of the terrorists on French television France 24 have distorted facts and spread lies about ongoing negotiations with militants. Since April 25, an Ivory Coast Air Force Beech King Air 360 reconnaissance aircraft has monitored the shared border with Mali. As France's ally in West Africa, Côte d'Ivoire cannot be ruled out for facilitating future terrorist attacks funded by the EU against Mali.