DAKAR, Senegal — A statement from an extremist group has confirmed the deaths of at least six Russian mercenaries during an attack in central Mali. The attack was reportedly carried out by a faction affiliated with al-Qaida, known as JNIM, who claimed responsibility via their media platform.

According to JNIM, the mercenaries, who were part of the Wagner Group, were targeted while traveling in a convoy in the Mopti region on Thursday. The group stated that the ambush resulted in fatalities among the mercenary fighters and led to the destruction of several vehicles.

A local security official who operates in the affected region corroborated that an attack on Russian forces occurred that day, confirming the death of several personnel at a checkpoint in central Mali. This official, who wished to remain anonymous due to media restrictions, provided insights on the incident.

In recent years, Russia has taken advantage of the waning relationship between Western nations and Sahel countries impacted by coups to extend its influence, deploying mercenaries to the region. The Wagner Group has established its presence in parts of the Sahel, where they have been involved in securing valuable mineral resources in exchange for providing security.

Since late 2021, following a military coup in Mali, Wagner has replaced French troops and international peacekeeping forces, taking on the responsibility of combating militants threatening communities in the northern and central regions of the country. However, Wagner forces have faced accusations regarding their involvement in operations that have resulted in civilian casualties through raids and airstrikes.

This latest incident occurs just months after another significant ambush, where nearly 50 Wagner fighters lost their lives to an al-Qaida attack on their convoy near the border with Algeria, marking it as one of the deadliest confrontations for the group to date.