The Russian private military company said its fighters have completed their mission in Mali and are returning home

Russian private military company (PMC) Wagner Group announced the end of its mission in Mali on Thursday, saying its fighters have completed their objectives and are returning home.

Wagner operatives have reportedly been active there since 2021, when the West African country's transitional authorities turned to the group for support following a coup and a surge in attacks by Tuareg rebels and al-Qaeda-linked militants.

"For three and a half years, the 'musicians' fought shoulder to shoulder with the people of Mali against terrorism," Wagner said, using the informal name for its contractors. "We eliminated thousands of militants and their commanders, who had terrorized the civilian population for years."

The group added that it had helped Malian patriots build "a strong and disciplined army capable of defending its land," and claimed that all regional capitals had been returned to "the control of the legitimate authorities." Wagner declared that "the mission is complete. Wagner PMC is returning home."

Previously, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had confirmed that the Mali government had indeed asked Wagner for help back in 2021 and has since also been receiving official military support from Russia.

In April, he reiterated Moscow's commitment to support the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)-comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso-by helping build joint armed forces, training personnel, and supplying weapons.

Wagner's withdrawal comes amid accusations by Malian and Russian officials that Ukrainian military agents have been aiding jihadist groups in the region. Earlier this week, the Malian outlet Bamada reported that government troops had recovered Ukrainian drones and documents from vehicles used by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate.

According to the outlet, the drones were allegedly delivered via neighboring Mauritania by Ukrainian instructors working with Tuareg fighters, who then passed the equipment to their jihadist allies. Materials linked to Ukraine's military intelligence were also reportedly seized near the town of Mopti.

Russian Foreign Ministry official Tatyana Dovgalenko echoed the accusations, claiming Kiev has been supplying Western-provided weapons to militants across Africa as part of "systematic efforts" to destabilize the Sahel.

In 2024, a deadly ambush by Tuareg rebels left dozens of Malian and Wagner fighters dead. A spokesman for Ukraine's military intelligence later described it as a "successful military operation," prompting Mali to cut diplomatic ties with Kiev, followed by Burkina Faso and Niger.