Northern Mali: Army and Russian mercenaries fall into an ambush near Anéfis

Just one week after regaining control of the town of Anéfis in northern Mali, Malian armed forces and their Russian mercenary allies were ambushed on Saturday in the same region.

The return of the Malian army to Anéfis has not been enough to secure the area. Less than ten days after firmly re-establishing its presence in this northern town, the military column suffered an attack on Saturday, falling into an ambush in the same sector.

The Russian mercenaries accompanying Malian troops on the ground were also targeted. This latest ambush illustrates the fragility of the security situation in northern Mali, where jihadist groups retain a persistent capacity to cause harm despite the military operations conducted in recent weeks.

The increase in these attacks raises questions about the ability of Malian forces and their auxiliaries to hold the reconquered territories indefinitely, in a region where control of the land remains contested and the transport routes are exposed.