4 Russian fighters killed in a jihadist ambush near Niono in Mali

Jihadists from the al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed responsibility for a deadly ambush on Monday, 28 September 2026, targeting a military convoy carrying Russian Africa Corps fighters near Niono in Mali’s Ségou region.

The attack occurred late in the morning between Tiemaba and Wewo, north of Niono—an area long controlled by JNIM’s Katiba Macina. Militants first struck the convoy with drone fire before moving in on the ground to assess the damage, seize weapons and equipment, and film propaganda footage that was later widely circulated on their channels. They then withdrew.

JNIM claimed “seven dead and wounded” among the Russian Africa Corps personnel and reported capturing a significant amount of arms and materiel. It made no mention of Malian soldiers. Local sources contacted by RFI—including residents, community leaders, and security analysts—confirmed at least four Russian soldiers killed, with additional wounded treated in Niono. Some accounts also reported Malian casualties, though these could not be independently verified. Other sources suggested the patrol consisted solely of Russian fighters, which would be unusual.

The Malian army has not commented on the ambush and did not respond to RFI’s inquiries. In a statement issued Tuesday, 29 September, the general staff made no reference to the incident but claimed it had carried out a “precise strike” the previous day (Sunday, 27 September) against a “terrorist hideout” in the same Niono area.

Separately, the Russian Africa Corps claimed a “joint operation” with Malian forces on Monday in the Ségou region that allegedly killed “up to 30 terrorists.” The Malian army’s Tuesday communiqué made no mention of any such operation that day.

In related developments, the Malian military claimed additional airstrikes on Monday near Dioura in the Mopti region against four “terrorist regrouping points.” Dioura’s military camp was overrun by JNIM on 10 September, resulting in more than 100 Malian soldiers killed and dozens captured; nearly three weeks later, the army had not yet reoccupied the site.

Meanwhile, the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), which fights alongside JNIM against Malian and Russian forces in the north, claimed kamikaze drone strikes on Tuesday against the Malian army camp in Goundam (Timbuktu region), without providing a casualty toll. The army has not commented on that claim.