Thousands of miles from the frontlines in Ukraine, where the Kremlin's war machine is steadily grinding forward, Russian forces face a potentially catastrophic situation in the West African nation of Mali as Al-Qaeda-loyal militants close in on the capital.

Jihadi fighters of Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), or "the Support Group for Islam and Muslims," have repeatedly rebuffed attempted counteroffensives by government forces and allied personnel of Russia's Africa Corps, the state-sponsored successor of the Wagner Group private military company. In recent weeks, JNIM has effectively blockaded Bamako, targeting critical fuel convoys and supply lines.

The military-led government that just three years ago ousted French troops in favor of Moscow is now under growing pressure t

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