Tuareg fighters claim to down Russian Africa Corps Mi-24 helicopter in Mali

Tuareg insurgents operating in northern Mali have posted video footage that they say shows a Russian Africa Corps Mi‑24 helicopter being shot down. The clip, released by a Tuareg group on social media, shows the helicopter descending in a cloud of smoke and debris before crashing near the town of Kidal. The insurgents claim the aircraft was targeted with ground‑based anti‑aircraft weapons, but no independent verification of the incident has yet been provided.

The incident comes amid a broader escalation in the Mali conflict, where Tuareg rebels have intensified attacks against Malian government forces and foreign troops. Russia’s Africa Corps, a private military company reportedly supporting the Malian army, has been deployed to the region since 2022 to assist in counterinsurgency operations. If the Tuareg claim is confirmed, it would mark the first known loss of a Russian military helicopter in the Sahel and could signal a shift in the balance of power on the ground.

Malian authorities have not yet commented on the footage, and Russian officials have denied any losses in Mali. The United Nations and regional partners have urged restraint and a return to diplomatic negotiations, while the situation remains fluid as both sides prepare for the next phase of the conflict.