Mali: a Russian killed in Hombori, the soldiers retaliate in the city

Malian armed forces soldiers.

(Illustration) AFP / Souleymane Ag Anara

Text by: David Baché

1 min

A Russian auxiliary to the Malian army was reportedly killed on Wednesday April 20 in Hombori, in the circle of Douentza, in the center of the country, after his vehicle exploded on an improvised mine, according to numerous sources at RFI.

They also evoke a response from the army.

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According to many Malian and international sources, including humanitarian and military, a vehicle of the Malian army, more precisely of the gendarmerie, would have been hit Tuesday morning by an improvised explosive device in Hombori.

A usual modus operandi of the jihadists of the

linked to AQIM, active in this area.  

A soldier would have been killed and it would not be a Malian but a Russian, who died of his injuries during his evacuation to the hospital of Sévaré, according to these same sources.

Military response

The Fama and their Russian auxiliaries are said to have burst into the weekly market in Hombori, which was held not far from the site of the explosion, and fired shots.

Local and security sources report deaths, numerous injuries and numerous arrests, but no reliable figures could be cross-checked at this stage.

The Malian army has not yet communicated on the subject. 

It is not the first time that the death of a Russian fighter in

has been reported, but there has never been an official confirmation.

The Malian authorities

but also that of Russian soldiers who would fight on the ground alongside the Fama.

They only admit to cooperating with Russian “ 

”.  

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