Mali's Rebels Show No Signs of Weakening in Face of Russian Mercenaries The recent attack on a convoy of Malian soldiers and Russian paramilitaries in northern Mali is just the latest in a string of setbacks for the coalition attempting to quell the region's insurgencies.
The rebels, comprising Tuareg separatists and jihadist groups like JNIM, have consistently demonstrated their ability to adapt and evolve in the face of external intervention.
The introduction of Russian mercenaries was expected to provide a decisive advantage to the Malian military and its allies. However, these highly trained fighters seem to be ineffective on the ground.