Russo-Malian Convoy Faces Difficulties en Route to Tinzaouaten

According to local sources, the Russo-Malian convoy, supported by members of the Groupe d’Autodéfense Tuareg Imghad et Alliés (GATIA), a pro-junta Tuareg armed group, numbering at most 66 vehicles—MRAPs and mine-resistant armored vehicles—may turn back to the commune of Tin-Essako after spending two days at Inakarot and traveling just 45 km of the 100 km needed to arrive at Tinzaouaten—the stronghold of the Tuareg separatists..What You Need to KnowReplenishing water supplies at a well near Inakarot, Tuareg separatist sources claimed the convoy began shooting their surroundings at random as evening rolled in, with Russian mercenaries noting their unease in their WhatsApp channels."They [Tuaregs] follow us step by step. They are in front of us and behind us," said one Russian mercenary.The fear of falling into an ambush as devastating as the one experienced at Tinzaouaten at the end of July, which killed approximately 87 Russian mercenaries and 50 FAMA personnel, has been a driving force in the convoy's decision-making process, as seen through the choice of routes far from the wadis (valleys) and the slow movement made toward Tinzaouaten.Tasked with retrieving the bodies of the fallen soldiers, which have remained in the sand at the site of the ambush for the last four months, local sources have reported a heightening of tensions between the FAMA and the mercenaries, with Russian channels denouncing the Malian personnel for their lack of operational security measures."The idiots from FAMA continue to post their location on Twitter, even during stops. Unteachable," said one channel.Seeking to avoid falling into an ambush like the one experienced in late July, the convoy's chosen route was drawn to avoid the area's wadis—leading to the loss of several pickup trucks and a motorcycle to thick sand.Moreover, the Tuaregs discovered two decoy Pantsir missile systems abandoned by the convoy near Inamadjal, pointing towards an attempted implementation of the Russian military doctrine of deception, 'Maskirovka,' or towards the possible sale of 'duds' to the Malian military by Russia.The abandonment of the Pantsir decoys is notable, however, as only neighboring Algeria, which lies just 150 kilometers ahead of Tinzaouaten, holds the airpower and munitions a Pantsir is expected to defend against. The likelihood of Algeria entering any skirmish between the Tuaregs and the Malian-Russo coalition is close to zero, however.Nevertheless, low visibility due to high winds in the last 24 hours has made the use of drones and helicopters difficult for the FAMA and their Russian counterparts, which is likely to further stir up unease among the military personnel for whom the desert is uncharted territory.As the situation develops, it will be seen whether the convoy returns to Tin-Essako before embarking for Tinzaouaten for a second time.On the civilian front, malaria and diphtheria continue to ravage Tinzaouaten, with Algeria sending a mobile clinic to the commune yesterday. According to local reports, many of the affected individuals are children.