What's happened
Recent attacks in the Central African Republic and Mali highlight escalating violence involving Wagner Group mercenaries. In Bria, motorcycle taxi drivers were ambushed and killed, while in Mali, a convoy of Wagner fighters was attacked by militants. These incidents reflect ongoing instability in the region.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to AP News, the ambush in Bria involved unidentified gunmen who killed motorcycle taxi drivers and their clients, with the military mobilizing alongside Wagner forces. The situation in Mali is similarly dire, with reports of Wagner mercenaries being attacked by militants, highlighting the precarious security landscape. The Independent notes that the junta leaders in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali are seeking to consolidate power amid rising violence, indicating a shift in regional alliances away from Western influence towards Russia.
How we got here
The Central African Republic has faced conflict since 2013, with various armed groups vying for power. The Wagner Group has been involved in the region, purportedly to stabilize it, but has been accused of human rights violations. In Mali, Wagner replaced French troops after a military coup in 2021.
More on these topics
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Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa, with an area of just over 1,240,000 square kilometres.