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The Wagner Group announced its withdrawal from Mali after "completing its main mission" in the West African country.

The Russian mercenary group has been active there since 2021, working with the army against Islamist militants.

In a message posted on its Telegram channel, Wagner said it had "fought terrorism side by side with the people of Mali" and had "eliminated thousands of militants and their commanders who had been terrorizing civilians for years."

The withdrawal announcement came on the same day reports emerged that Malian troops had pulled out from a major base in the center of the country following a second deadly attack in less than a week.

Mali has been battling a militant Islamist insurgency for over a decade.

Following accusations that the government failed to address insecurity, the army took power several years ago.

French troops, initially deployed to support the civilian government, left the country in 2022. By that time, the ruling junta had begun working with Russian mercenaries to fight the insurgents.

In recent weeks, jihadist attacks on military bases in the Sahel region have surged again.

Last Sunday, a group linked to Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for a major attack on the town of Boulikessi and its military base.