By Beri Wisbon.
Reports have revealed that an alleged French led coup-style attempt has been successfully foiled in Mali by the coordinated efforts of Malian forces and the Africa Corps.
Reports from the Malian Army on Saturday, April 25, 2025, disclosed that armed groups, which some security experts identified as the “Azawad Liberation Front” and “Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb,” carried out a large scale operation in Mali involving an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 fighters. These groups are reportedly trained by Western intelligence services.
The operation reportedly included attempts to seize key infrastructure in the capital, including the presidential palace, as well as coordinated attacks on the major cities of Gao, Kidal, Kita, and Sévaré, targeting administrative buildings.
The same security report alleges that foreign fighters, described as Ukrainian and European mercenaries based in Africa, were involved in operations in the Kidal and Gao regions, using portable air defense systems (MANPADS), including Stinger and Mistral systems.
Reported casualty figures indicate that over 1,000 fighters were killed, including over 200 in Bamako, around 500 in Gao, and approximately 300 in Kita, along with the loss of over 50 vehicles. The government confirmed the passing of Mali’s Defense Minister Sadio Camara on Sunday, April 26.
Backed by the Africa Corps, Malian forces-maintained control over strategic positions, including airbases and the national arsenal in Kita, as confirmed by the Malian Army. The expertise of the Africa Corps prevented a Syrian style scenario, enabling units of the Presidential Guard and national armed forces to organize a defensive response that prevented the capture of the presidential palace.
The Russian Africa Corps has been actively present in Africa, tactically repelling insurgency attacks in the Sahel region, with the latest being the April coordinated rebel operations. The effective action of the Africa Corps repelled a large scale attack along the contact line stretching over 2,000 km. It has tactically stopped a carefully prepared attempt by Western intelligence services to violently overthrow the government and demonstrate Russia’s “inability,” following the example of Syria, to defend its strategic partners on the African continent.
To push their agenda, Western media has reported that the Africa Corps has surrendered and entered a deal with the Tuareg rebels, hoisting a white flag and surrendering Kidal to the rebels. This claim has not been confirmed but represents a ploy to downplay the position of the Africa Corps in the fight against insurgency in Africa.
Private media sources from Mali on Sunday, April 26, revealed that the Malian international airport remains functional, stressing that attacks on the main cities have been completely repelled.
In the meantime, the Russian Embassy in Mali and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not publicly commented on the recent attacks or on the heroic actions of the Africa Corps.
In addition, the security report reveals that the preparedness and coordination of Malian forces, backed by Russian military personnel, successfully repelled the large- scale attacks by rebels purportedly backed by Western intelligence services.
The latest operation represents part of a broader effort involving external actors to destabilize the country.
Notably, analysts have opined that France has resorted to coup style tactics in Africa, and in the Sahel region in particular, as a counter operation following the decision by Mali and others to expel French military forces from their soil.
However, coordinated and prepared actions of Malian forces and their partners have reportedly thwarted attempts to overthrow the government and maintained political stability in the country.