Mali: Wagner PMC “returning home”

06.05.2025 The Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner has officially announced the completion of its mission in Mali. The company operated in the country for 3.5 years. During this time, the fighters destroyed “thousands of militants and their commanders”, helping the Malian armed forces regain control over all regional centers of the country.

BIG: Russia's Wagner Group is leaving Mali after 3.5 years.

The group claims its mission is complete.

“Mission accomplished,” they say — time to return home. pic.twitter.com/LtjTLNGxnS

— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 6, 2025

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The statement says that during this time, the PMC trained and strengthened the Malian army and helped it liberate all administrative centers from militants. “The mission is complete. PMC Wagner is returning home,” the PMC said in a statement.

PMC Wagner has been operating in Mali since 2021. An agreement with it was signed by the Malian military, who took power in the country and achieved the withdrawal of the French military and international peacekeepers.

In July 2024, in northern Mali, government troops and Wagner fighters were ambushed by Tuareg separatists and Islamists. Dozens of PMC fighters were killed then. Ukrainian authorities said they helped the Islamists prepare this operation. Soon after, Mali and Niger broke off diplomatic relations with Ukraine.

📍Mali 🇲🇱 Africa. pic.twitter.com/EXpAX14B4R

— Typical African (@Joe__Bassey) June 2, 2025

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On May 30, the Malian military said that Ukrainian military instructors were supplying the militants with drones, intelligence, and communications equipment.