Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian paramilitary group “Wagner”, denied any losses of his troops during the attack organized by the jihadist organization linked to “Al-Qaeda” in the city of Sevare in the central part of Mali, according to AFP.

The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM, or JNIN, the Arabic acronym) on Tuesday claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack in Sevare, saying it killed and wounded dozens of Malian army soldiers and Wagner fighters. .

“According to my information, no one was injured in Sevare. Al-Nusra Front (a jihadist group operating in Syria), Al-Qaeda and other organizations are speaking out. They were very weak for years and could not attack anything,” Yevgeny Prigozhin responded, as quoted by his press service.

“But among terrorists, as far as I know, losses are high. Mali’s army controls the country perfectly,” he said, responding in Russian and French to AFP, which asked him to confirm whether or not the attack and loss among Wagner.

On Sunday, Mali’s government announced the death of ten civilians and three soldiers in a car bomb attack near Sevare airport in the Mopti region.

Two local elected officials and a diplomatic source called the site of the attack a camp where Russian troops are stationed.

In 2022, Mali’s junta began working with what it calls Russian “instructors,” members of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, which Western countries accuse of being involved in numerous atrocities.

GSIM says it detonated two car bombs that destroyed part of the airport and says its men then entered the airport and fought for two hours. (News.ro)