India, June 15 -- On October 6, 2025, theRussian private militarycompany Wagner officially declared its decision to withdraw its troops from Mali, thereby concluding more than three and a half years of engagement in the West African nation's protracted campaign against Islamic extremists and insurgents. Although Wagner's departure signifies the end of a contentious chapter, Russia's military presence in Mali is far from over. The Africa Corps, a Kremlin-controlled paramilitary force, will continue operations, signalling a strategic realignment rather than a retreat.

Wagner's operation in Mali commenced in late 2021 following a military coup that ousted the civilian government. The coup leaders, frustrated by the inability of the Malian a...