In a major development in Mali, a mainly Tuareg separatist coalition has declared victory over the country's army and its Russian allies following three days of intense fighting in the Tinzaouatene district near the border with Algeria. The coalition, known as CSP-PSD, announced that they had successfully seized or damaged a significant amount of equipment and weapons, while also taking prisoners.

According to the statement released by the separatist coalition, seven rebels were killed and 12 wounded during the fierce clashes in Tinzaouatene. This territory, largely surrounded by Algerian land, has been a hotbed of conflict between separatist forces and the Malian army for years.

Mali's military rulers, led by Colonel Assimi Goita, came into power in 2020 and sought assistance from the Russian private military company, Wagner Group, after expelling French forces in 2022. The Tuareg, who are an ethnic group in Mali, have been fighting for independence since 2012.

This latest outbreak of violence erupted when the Malian army announced the recapture of several districts, triggering a large-scale confrontation with the separatist groups. The CSP-PSD claimed to have damaged a helicopter, causing it to crash in Kidal, a stronghold of the separatist rebels.

Reports indicate that the separatist coalition lost control of several districts in 2023, including Kidal, after a military offensive by the government forces. The Malian army confirmed that two soldiers were killed and 10 injured in the recent clashes. Additionally, an army helicopter crashed in Kidal, though no fatalities were reported.

As the situation unfolds, Adama Gaye, a journalist and former director of the Economic Community of West African States, has suggested that the Tuareg forces could be receiving support from external sources, including the French military and regional armed groups affiliated with al-Qaeda.

Furthermore, videos shared by the rebels with AFP news agency showed captured prisoners, including white soldiers, although their identities remain unverified. A local official and a former United Nations worker claimed that the Malian army had withdrawn with at least 15 fighters from Russia's Wagner Group either killed or arrested.

Russian military bloggers have reported that at least 20 mercenaries from the Wagner Group were killed in an ambush near the Algerian border. However, these reports have not been independently confirmed.

In response to allegations, Mali denies that the Russian forces in the country are Wagner mercenaries and insists that they are acting as trainers to support the local troops.

The recent clashes highlight the ongoing violence in Mali, with rebel groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIS, as well as community self-defense and criminal organizations, causing unrest since 2012. The conflict has resulted in accusations of human rights abuses against the civilian population, which Malian authorities refute.

The situation in Mali remains volatile, and the outcome of this recent confrontation between the Tuareg separatist coalition, the Malian army, and their Russian allies is yet to be fully analyzed.