Russian-backed troops report foiled coup attempt in Mali as security concerns deepen
Russian-linked paramilitary group Africa Corps has said it thwarted what it described as a large-scale coup attempt in Mali, following coordinated attacks across several cities.
Black News 
![Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and interim Malian President Assimi Goita (L) enter the hall during their meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace, June 23, 2025, in Moscow, Russia. [Photo by Contributor/Getty Images]](https://ocdn.eu/pulscms/MDA_/4667ad0173d562823de841f2039951ea.jpg)
Russian-linked paramilitary group Africa Corps has said it thwarted what it described as a large-scale coup attempt in Mali, following coordinated attacks across several cities.
- A Russian-linked paramilitary group says it has disrupted an alleged coup attempt in Mali.
- Africa Corps claims up to 12,000 fighters targeted key military and government sites across several cities.
- The group accuses militant networks and foreign actors of coordinating the assault, allegations that remain unverified.
- The incident underscores growing instability in Mali and the expanding influence of Russian security actors in the Sahel.
In a statement posted on Telegram, as reported by the Cameroon Concord, the group said between 10,000 and 12,000 fighters launched assaults on Saturday, April 25, 2026, targeting the capital, Bamako, the garrison town of Kati, and northern cities including Gao, Kidal, and Sévaré.
According to the statement, key targets included the presidential palace, military barracks and a major munitions depot in Kati.
Africa Corps, which operates in support of Mali’s transitional military authorities and is linked to Russia, attributed the attacks to the Front for the Liberation of Africa and a Saharan affiliate of Al-Qaeda. It further alleged the involvement of “Ukrainian mercenaries” and support from Western intelligence agencies.
Those claims have not been independently verified, and neither Ukraine nor Western governments have publicly responded.
The group said its forces had secured all strategic locations and “neutralised more than 1,000 fighters”, asserting that control had been restored across affected areas. Mali’s transitional government has not issued a detailed statement confirming or disputing those figures.
If accurate, the scale of the reported offensive would mark one of the most significant security incidents in the Sahel in recent years.
The episode highlights ongoing instability in Mali, where the military-led government has faced persistent insurgent threats since taking power.
It also underscores the expanding role of Russian-linked security actors in the region, as Western influence wanes and partnerships shift amid broader geopolitical tensions.
