'Shoulder to shoulder!' - Russia’s Africa Corps releases combat footage following 'terrorist attacks' across Mali

"The Africa Corps of the Russian Armed Forces released footage on Sunday showing military operations in Mali amid a series of 'complex and co-ordinated' attacks across several cities. On Sunday night, government spokesperson Issa Ousmane Coulibaly confirmed that Defence Minister Sadio Camara had been killed when "a vehicle laden with explosives and driven by a suicide attacker targeted the minister's residence". The video shows helicopters firing projectiles, reportedly targeting groups of fighters, as well as Russian servicemen employing heavy equipment, grenade launchers and rifles. The African Corps reported that Russian servicemen had "provided support to Malian troops, who prevented the presidential palace and key sites in Bamako from being seized. "In the areas around the cities of Kidal and Gao, Ukrainian and European mercenaries in Africa took part in attacks on state facilities and government forces, using Western-made MANPADS such as the Stinger and Mistral," a statement continued. The corps reported that more than "1,000 terrorists were killed and over 100 vehicles destroyed" across the country by April 26. Malian government spokesperson General Issa Ousmane Coulibaly said that the situation was now 'fully under control' in the affected areas, with reinforced security deployments and patrols continuing. The hostilities left 16 wounded, he added. The national authorities condemned what they called 'cowardly terrorist acts' and vowed to pursue those responsible, urging citizens to remain vigilant and rely on official sources for information. According to reports, the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin claimed responsibility for the attacks, including strikes on Bamako's international airport and other locations, reportedly carried out alongside the Azawad Liberation Front. Mali has faced years of instability driven by jihadist insurgencies and separatist movements, with violence regularly targeting both military positions and civilian areas despite ongoing security operations. The exact date and location of the footage cannot be independently verified."

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