The Malian army and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group suffered a major setback and huge losses in a confrontation with Tuareg rebels near Mali’s Algerian border in late July 2024. In the ambush, at least 20 Russian Wagner fighters were killed, while several others were captured.
Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s military intelligence, predicted a “continuation” after the Wagner convoy attack. He claimed that the rebels in Mali had acquired critical information that enabled them to carry out the operation against the Wagner mercenaries.
However, Yusov did not specifically state that Ukraine was the source of this information. Nonetheless, Russia used the devastation of the Wagner convoy in Africa to tarnish Ukraine’s standing on the international stage. To accomplish this, Russia used its regular disinformation methods.
Following Tuareg separatists’ ambush of Wagner mercenaries and a Russian disinformation campaign, Mali’s military junta declared it was cutting diplomatic ties with Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of helping the insurgents. The next day, Niger, an ally of Mali with its own military junta, issued a similar declaration. A day later, Andriy Yusov told the Financial Times that he had not confirmed Ukraine’s involvement in the Wagner mercenaries’ loss in Mali. Espreso TV conducted an analysis, to which we contributed, of the main narratives involved.
Ambush on the Wagner group in Mali
Since early 2012, Mali, a West African country, has been engulfed in a war between its southern government and northern rebel factions, primarily Tuareg rebels. These rebels have been fighting for the independence or increased autonomy of northern Mali.
To confront the violence, the Malian government originally sought assistance from United Nations peacekeepers and French forces. However, two military coups in 2020 and 2021 hampered efforts to conclude the conflict.
Following the coups, a military junta gained control of the country, evicted foreign personnel, and hired Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group to assist the Malian army. Since then, Wagner has worked closely with the new Malian government to combat the northern insurgents, considerably boosting its presence in the country.
Russia’s Influence in Africa
Russia has refocused its diplomatic efforts on Africa after 2014, when it grew increasingly isolated on the world stage. In contrast, the Kremlin has not ignored Ukraine’s recent rapid development of partnerships with African countries.
Africa is strategically important for both Russia and Ukraine, but for different reasons. Many African countries are experiencing significant economic expansion, and the continent has a sizable and youthful consumer base.
For Ukraine, gaining African support in the United Nations is critical, especially when it comes to resolutions that support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and condemn Russian invasion. As a result, the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine have been frequently visiting African nations to enhance diplomatic relations.
Russia has used the situation in Mali to erode Ukraine’s status in Africa and on the international scene, starting a propaganda campaign that spreads false narratives to further harm Ukraine’s position.
Russian disinformation: ‘Ukraine provides weapons to terrorists’
Russian propaganda intentionally substitutes key concepts to manipulate information: by labeling Malian Tuareg as Islamists and al-Qaeda affiliates, Russian media falsely claimed that Ukraine was providing weapons and training to al-Qaeda militants, widely recognized as terrorists.
In fact, both organizations operate in neighboring areas and oppose the Malian junta. They are distinct organisms with diverse motivations.
Furthermore, Russian propaganda turned Ukrainian intelligence’s comment regarding the information that assisted the rebels in defeating Russian mercenaries into charges of actual coordination between Ukraine and “Islamist terrorists.”
- https://francais.rt.com/afrique/112922-carnets-sante-drones-preuves-presence
- https://francais.rt.com/afrique/112927-sahel-mali-niger-ont-saisi
Adding to the confusion, Islamist groups claimed credit for the attack. The al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) supported Russian propaganda by claiming to have killed 50 Russian mercenaries and 10 Malian soldiers during the attack.
Following these events, the Malian Tuareg rebels maintained that they had attacked Wagner mercenaries on their own, with no support from foreign intelligence services, including Ukraine. The statement was published by Reuters.
In an attempt to profit from its own humiliation, Russia began a massive disinformation campaign accusing Ukraine of sending weapons to al-Qaeda terrorists. The campaign began with a statement from Russia’s Foreign Ministry, which accused Ukraine of aiding terrorist organizations.
Maria Zakharova, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said that the Ukrainian government was assisting terrorists in African countries aligned with Moscow. Zakharova alleged that the “Kyiv regime” was attempting to destabilize these countries and undermine their collaboration with Russia.
- https://fr.sputniknews.africa/20240807/zakharova-le-regime-de-kiev-favorise-les-groupes-terroristes-dans-les-pays-africains-amis-de-moscou-1067759807.html
The Kremlin’s French-language portal, RT France, which targets French-speaking African countries, echoed the Russian officials’ claims.
Specifically, Russian propaganda has alleged that Ukraine is giving weapons and training to al-Qaeda terrorists. This appears to be an attempt to link Ukraine with terrorism and discredit it in the eyes of African countries. The erroneous assertions imply that Ukrainian military intelligence helped the Ansar Dine group, an al-Qaeda branch.
Indeed, there are several rebel organizations in the area, and the convoy transporting Wagner mercenaries was ambushed by Tuareg separatists who are not Islamist. These Tuareg fighters are members of the Azawad movement, which aims to establish their own state.
The Kremlin narrative: ‘Ukraine destabilizes the situation in Africa’
Russia is spreading stories in the Sahel region, particularly Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger, implying Ukrainian involvement in destabilizing actions. This is part of a larger campaign to depict Ukraine as a global destabilizing force, especially in areas where Russia has strategic interests.
The Kremlin’s French-language Sputnik site has actively promoted disinformation throughout Africa, including quotes from Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim, who declared that breaking off relations with Kyiv is the best solution for the Sahelian alliance (Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali). This comment is part of Russia’s information warfare strategy to instill long-term distrust of Ukraine in African countries that already have relations to Moscow.
- https://fr.sputniknews.africa/20240812/lafrique-rompt-ses-relations-diplomatiques-avec-kiev-car-elle-voit-sa-nature-terroriste-1067826186.html
- https://fr.sputniknews.africa/20240808/la-rupture-avec-kiev-est-la-meilleure-chose-que-les-etats-du-sahel-puissent-faire-selon-un-expert-1067780736.html
- https://fr.sputniknews.africa/20240808/soutien-de-deux-responsables-ukrainiens-au-terrorisme-au-mali-bamako-lance-une-enquete-judiciaire-1067773202.html
Pro-Russian French-language publications, including Tribune Diplomatique Internationale, Strategika, and Résistance Républicaine, have likewise spread the disinformation that Ukraine is training terrorists in Africa and aiming to move tensions to the Sahel region. These media outlets portray Ukraine as an active participant in African conflicts, particularly in Mali, and accuse it of inciting violence in both Africa and Russia. The purpose is to portray Ukraine as a destabilizing actor, orchestrating provocations in Africa and undermining stability.
- https://tribune-diplomatique-internationale.com/2024/ukraine-entrainement-des-groupes-terroristes-sahelmercenairesincursion-en-russie/
- https://strategika.fr/2024/08/17/un-nouveau-front-ukrainien-au-mali/
- https://resistancerepublicaine.com/2024/08/18/lukraine-lentrainement-des-groupes-terroristes-au-sahel-les-mercenaires-et-lincursion-en-russie/
Furthermore, French-language Sputnik cited “expert” Alexander Arkadyev, who frequently demonizes the West. Arkadyev has spread misinformation that the West is using Ukraine as a conduit to send weapons to Africa. This assertion is part of a larger narrative that portrays Ukraine as an instrument of Western geopolitics, intended to destabilize regions such as Africa. The goal is to weaken Ukraine’s sovereignty and tarnish its foreign friends.
- https://fr.sputniknews.africa/20240807/loccident-utilise-lukraine-comme-intremediaire-pour-le-transfert-darmes-en-afrique-dit-un-expert-1067771325.html
The Mali propaganda campaign was joined by Russian propaganda channels on Telegram, including BreakingMash, A. Supersharij, Rusich Army, RIA Novosti (Rian Ru), BB BREAKING, Readovka, Rybar, and RVvoenkor, all of which target foreign audiences.
- https://t.me/breakingmash/56475
- https://t.me/ASupersharij/31311
- https://t.me/rusich_army/16265
- https://t.me/ASupersharij/31174
- https://t.me/breakingmash/56611
- https://t.me/rian_ru/256371
- https://t.me/bbbreAKING/187399
- https://t.me/readovkanews/84161
- https://t.me/rybar/62635
- https://t.me/RVvoenkor/73794
Leading international outlets have issued objective and balanced reports on the battle involving Russian mercenaries in Mali.
- CNN reported on the deaths of Russian mercenaries linked to the Wagner Group in Mali, suggesting that this incident may be part of a broader regional conflict.
- The Guardian noted that Ukrainian military intelligence might have played a role in the attack on Russian mercenaries in Mali.
- France 24 wrote that Tuareg rebels in Mali claimed to have killed over 100 Mali military and Russian mercenaries in confrontations in July.
- Newsweek examined Wagner’s setback in Mali and its possible consequences for Russian military policy and diplomacy.
In France, which was driven out of Mali by Russia, Wagner, and the junta, Le Monde quoted a Tuareg rebel commander who denied that Ukrainian intelligence helped organize the raid. The commander also stated maintaining constant communication with intelligence organizations from several countries.
“According to a CSP-DPA military leader, some 50 paramilitaries were killed and two taken prisoner, making Tin Zaouatine the worst defeat for the group since it arrived in Mali in late 2021 at the request of the ruling junta,” Le Monde wrote.
Overall, major media sources in the UK, Germany, and France provided objective coverage of Ukraine, refuting Russian propaganda claims. These reports do not accuse Ukraine of helping terrorists, but they do clearly identify Tuareg rebels as the authors of the ambush, not Islamist al-Qaeda affiliates.
Despite this, Russia has launched a massive disinformation campaign to undermine Ukraine and reduce its Western assistance.
