As Malian forces Recapture Inafarak, losses in Tinzaouaten highlight volatile security situation

Scene of the attack on Malian and Russian Wagner forces by Taureg rebels near Tinzaouaten, Mali.

The recent capture of the strategic town of Inafarak has raised hopes that the Malian government’s battle to regain total control of the country may be on track.

However, there are also worries that these successes have forced the insurgents to employ tactics that may escalate casualties on the government side, as an alleged recent ambush of government and Russian mercenary forces reveal.

The recapture of Inafarak is a major strike at the core of the insurgency. The town is a strategic town located on the border with Algeria and plays a crucial role in the Sahel region.

It is also an important commercial crossroads, ensuring supplies to the cities of Timbuktu and Gao. Since 2012, the Malian state has been absent from this area, leaving a security vacuum that persisted for a long time.

However, the situation has changed with the town’s recapture by the Malian Armed Forces. This development marks a significant turning point in the security of this sensitive region, giving hope to the population and strengthening the presence of the Malian state in its northern territory.

Despite the successes recorded, the recent reports, not yet confirmed by Malian authorities, of a major ambush claimed by the group “Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin,” affiliated with al-Qaeda, in which fighters of the Russian Wagner PMC and soldiers of the Malian armed forces suffered heavy losses, indicates a major setback for the Malian government.

The Arab-Tuareg coalition of the “Strategic Framework for the Protection of the People of Azawad” also announced what it described as “the defeat of government troops in Mali.” The militants were already spreading videos online of the killed and captive fighters. Currently, the claims are unsubstantiated.

It was reported that the Militants attacked Malian Armed Forces soldiers and Wagner PMC fighters who had withdrawn from Tinzaouaten for regrouping.

While these losses indicate a major blow to the efforts of the Malian government in its war against insurgency, security experts say it still does not undermine the rise in power of the Sahelian armies, notably thanks to the support of partners such as Russia, which has forced terrorist groups to review their strategies.

Obviously cornered and disorganised, the pundits say, insurgents now seek to strike where it hurts. They say this new tactic, far from being a sign of strength, on the contrary reveals the desperation of the different insurgent groups faced with the intense offensive of the Malian armed forces.

However, this incident raises significant questions about the presence and role of foreign mercenaries in Mali, as well as the broader geopolitical implications for the region, some say.
The recent clashes in the Kidal region of Northern Mali highlight the ongoing complexity and volatility of the region’s security situation.

The Tuareg rebels’ ability to repel an invasion by Russian-backed Malian forces, including the capture of several Wagner fighters, underscores the intricate power dynamics at play in the country.