A Russian-built Su-24M bomber operated by the Africa Corps crashed into the Niger River near Gao, Mali, shortly after an armed confrontation with separatist forces, representing a significant setback for Russia’s expanding military involvement in the Sahel.

Africa Corps, which replaced the Wagner Group as Russia’s principal military operator in Mali, has now recorded its most serious equipment loss since assuming control of operations in the country.

According to The Africa Report, the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) confirmed that the jet made a “forced landing” and sustained extensive damage, with wreckage found near a fishing site. Authorities attributed the incident to poor weather conditions and sand-laden winds. However, the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) claimed the aircraft had been damaged during earlier missions, citing potential structural fatigue or combat-related impairment.

The crash marks the latest in a series of aerial losses affecting Mali’s and Russia’s joint military operations. Since January, Mali has lost two Su-25 jets and a Turkish-manufactured Bayraktar Akıncı drone, reportedly downed by Algerian forces. These incidents have reduced Mali’s operational aerial fleet to a small number of L-39 aircraft. The Su-24M, a Soviet-era tactical bomber known for its speed and precision-guided munitions, had only recently been deployed and was regarded as the most capable fixed-wing asset in the current campaign.

The incident came a day after a deadly ambush in Dioura, where FLA fighters used kamikaze drones to strike a logistics convoy consisting of Malian soldiers and Africa Corps personnel. Rebel sources claimed significant casualties and the destruction of 21 vehicles. The Malian government denied any losses, stating that airstrikes had repelled the assault.