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by Temitope Oladeji 08/6/2025 The Russian paramilitary group Wagner has officially ended and withdrawn from Mali, with its operations now being taken over by the Kremlin-backed Africa Corps, diplomatic and security sources told AFP on Sunday. “Officially, Wagner is no longer present in Mali. But the Africa Corps is stepping up,” said a diplomatic source based in the Sahel region. A Telegram channel associated with Wagner confirmed the development, stating, “Mission accomplished. PMC Wagner is going home.” Mali’s junta, having seized power through coups in 2020 and 2021, has steadily distanced itself from France, the country’s former colonial ruler, and turned to Russia for military and political support. Wagner, long seen as Russia’s most prominent private military company, was disbanded and reorganized after its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died in a tragic plane crash in August 2023, shortly after leading a brief rebellion against the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Though the Malian government has never publicly acknowledged Wagner’s presence, instead referring to “Russian instructors,” foreign officials say Moscow has maintained control throughout. “The Kremlin remains in control,” the diplomatic source added. “Most of the Wagner personnel in Mali, who are originally from Russia, will be reintegrated into the Africa Corps and remain stationed in northern regional capitals and Bamako.” The Africa Corps, widely considered Wagner’s successor, is another paramilitary force aligned with the Russian government.  Like Wagner, its fighters operate across various African nations, offering military support to governments aligned with Moscow’s interests.

by Temitope Oladeji 03/06/2025 At least 27 Palestinians were killed near Rafah while waiting for humanitarian aid, according to local health officials in Gaza on Tuesday.  The Israeli military acknowledged firing on individuals approximately half a kilometer from the U.S.-backed aid distribution center, claiming the individuals were approaching in a manner that “posed a threat” to Israeli forces. Despite multiple reports of fatal incidents near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s aid site in recent days, the Israeli military maintains that it does not obstruct the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza residents. Meanwhile, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights warned that restricting access to food and relief supplies for civilians could amount to a war crime.  The United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated, “Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law and a war crime.”  The UN has called for an independent investigation into the killings of Palestinians near the U.S.-supported aid distribution point in southern Gaza. In a separate development, the Israeli military reported that three of its soldiers were killed in northern Gaza on Monday, the deadliest loss for Israeli forces since the end of a ceasefire with Hamas in March.  The soldiers, all in their early 20s, reportedly died in an explosion in the Jabaliya area.  Their deaths came shortly after Hamas’ armed wing claimed its fighters were involved in intense combat with Israeli forces in the region. The ceasefire broke down in March after Hamas refused to amend the terms of a hostage release agreement.  Since then, Israeli military operations have escalated, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 54,000 Palestinians killed, primarily women and children.  The ministry does not specify how many were civilians versus combatants.  Israel, meanwhile, claims to have killed about 20,000 militants, though it has not provided evidence to support that figure. Hamas launched the war with its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, during which approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 hostages taken.  Of those, 58 hostages remain in captivity, with about one-third believed to be alive.  Israel reports that around 860 of its soldiers have died since the onset of the conflict, including over 400 during operations inside Gaza.

by Temitope Oladeji 03/06/2025 A Nigerian military air strike in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria, has left at least 20 people dead, according to both official sources and residents.  The incident, which occurred over the weekend, has sparked outrage from affected communities and renewed calls from human rights organizations for an independent investigation. Military authorities said the air strike was launched in response to intelligence reports indicating that a large group of armed men, often referred to as “bandits,” were assembling to attack nearby settlements.  According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the armed group had already killed several farmers and abducted civilians, including women and children. Ejodame confirmed that two local vigilantes were also killed and two others injured in the operation.  However, residents offered a different account, saying a military jet mistakenly targeted local vigilantes who were chasing the attackers. Prodesq media gathered from villagers that communities had earlier suffered attacks by bandits in the Mani and Wabi areas of the Maru district, during which cattle were stolen and residents kidnapped.  In response, local vigilantes pursued the attackers, only to be hit by an air strike after the military was called in for support. “We were struck by a double tragedy,” said Buhari Dangulbi, a resident.  “The bandits raided our villages, and then those who went after them were bombed by a fighter jet. Twenty people were killed.” Abdullahi Ali, a member of a local militia in Mani, said the military aircraft fired on the vigilante group. “They were trying to rescue those kidnapped, but instead they were killed,” he said. Another local, Ishiye Kabiru, added, “The vigilantes from Maraya and nearby villages went after the bandits, only to be bombed by mistake.” Alka Tanimu noted the grim aftermath:  “We still have to pay ransom to get our people back, and the stolen cattle are gone.” The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from Amnesty International, which called it another example of reckless military operations targeting civilian areas. “ While armed groups must be stopped, launching air strikes without proper safeguards is both dangerous and unlawful,” the organization said in a statement. Such incidents are not new. In January, at least 16 vigilantes were killed in a similar strike in Zamfara’s Zurmi district.  In December 2022, over 100 civilians died in Mutunji village under similar circumstances.  A year later, an air strike on a religious gathering in Kaduna State killed at least 85 people. Rights groups and affected communities are urging the Nigerian government to conduct an impartial investigation and implement measures to prevent future tragedies.