According to a senior French defense official, hundreds of Russian paramilitary fighters have been deployed to Mali to assist in combating a rising Islamist insurgency that threatens the ruling military junta. This development follows the withdrawal of the Wagner Group, a notorious Russian private military company, which left Mali in June. French defense officials have been closely monitoring this situation and estimate that approximately 2,500 mercenaries from a newly formed group known as the Africa Corps are now operating in the West African nation.
BBC Verify has authenticated videos that showcase heavily armed troops affiliated with the Africa Corps engaging in combat operations in rural Mali since their deployment began in June. The activities of the Africa Corps have been thoroughly documented on their Telegram channel and other related social media platforms. In one particular clip, which BBC Verify geolocated to the town of Niono in the central Segou region, heavily armed combatants were observed in the aftermath of fierce clashes with insurgents.
The troops were equipped with AK-style assault rifles, and at least one soldier was seen carrying a GP-25 grenade launcher. Additional footage from the Telegram channel, also geolocated to the outskirts of Niono, revealed dozens of bodies—presumably of insurgents—alongside large caches of arms and motorcycles that were recovered by both the Africa Corps and Malian military forces.
In a separate report, BBC Verify has released new satellite images indicating that the East Wing of the White House has been entirely demolished. These images, captured on Monday, depict construction crews dismantling the building as part of President Donald Trump's extensive plan to create a new ballroom, which is projected to cost around $300 million (£225 million).
The recent images show the complete destruction of the East Wing structure, including the hallway and colonnade that connect it to the main presidential residence. Originally constructed in 1902 and last modified in 1942, the East Wing housed offices for the First Lady and other staff members, as well as a movie theater.
The new ballroom, which will have the capacity to seat 650 guests, is part of President Trump’s vision for the White House. Officials from the Trump administration have assured that the reconstruction will be completed “long before” his term concludes in January 2029.
Today on BBC Verify, we will provide updates on several key stories, including the investigation into the Russian paramilitary unit that has taken over operations previously conducted by the Wagner Group in Mali. Additionally, we will delve into the phenomenon of “ghost flights” at the recently reopened Khartoum airport, and we will explain our verification process for the video showing alleged robbers escaping from the Louvre Museum. Furthermore, we will monitor the Coalition of the Willing meeting in London, where over 20 of Ukraine’s allies are convening to discuss military support for the Ukrainian government.
