Relations between the Malian armed forces and the mercenaries of the Wagner group, who have been operating in Mali for several months, seem increasingly fragile. After the failure of Operation Vengeance in Tinzawaten, the differences between the two military partners are increasingly visible, raising questions about the future of their collaboration.
A collaboration under pressure with the Wagner group
Since the arrival of Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group in Mali, cooperation with the local armed forces has been marked by latent tensions. If Wagner was initially welcomed as support in the fight against rebel and jihadist groups, signs of unease quickly appeared within the Malian army. The Russian mercenaries, who arrived as “saviors”, often displayed a certain contempt towards the Malian forces, considered insufficiently professional.
These frictions intensified during Operation Vengeance in Tinzawaten, where a Malian military convoy, accompanied by Wagner mercenaries, had to turn back without even confronting the rebel forces. Officially, the objective of this mission was to recover the bodies of soldiers who fell during fighting last July, but the lack of an offensive was seen as a failure. The setback highlighted a growing divide between Malians and their Russian partners, with both sides blaming each other for the situation.
Towards a new strategic approach?
The failure of the operation in Tinzawaten could mark a turning point in Mali’s military strategy. Faced with internal criticism and growing distrust of Wagner, the Malian army could seek to modify its methods to regain efficiency and autonomy. One of the avenues mentioned would be a strengthening of the use of drones, a technology that Mali, like Burkina Faso and Niger, is starting to exploit more intensively.
The use of drones would offer several advantages: better surveillance of the territory, increased precision in strikes and a reduction in human losses on the ground. This technology could allow Malian forces to reduce their dependence on Wagner, while strengthening their ability to confront armed groups. However, this development also raises challenges, particularly in terms of training and equipment, which the army will have to meet to implement a truly autonomous and effective strategy.
