Mali security news: how pro-AES accounts spread false claims about a french soldier
Between July 4 and 9, Mali’s armed forces, backed by Russian contingents, engaged in intense combat operations in the Anéfis region. As the dust settled, a wave of disinformation targeting the French military began circulating online. Despite France’s withdrawal from Mali in August 2022, false narratives suggested a French soldier was killed alongside rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front and the Support Group for Islam and Muslims.
Disinformation campaign targets French military after Anéfis battle
Misinformation first surfaced quietly on X (formerly Twitter) on July 9, shortly after the heaviest fighting in Anéfis. The false narrative distorted reports of a French soldier killed in a July 7 training accident in the French Alps. The French General Staff had already honored Sergeant Pena, who died in service. Pro-AES accounts seized on the incident, claiming unverified reports suggested he may have died in Anéfis.
A Russian mercenary, not a French soldier
The disinformation campaign escalated with the publication of a photo purportedly showing the dead French soldier—a white soldier lying in the sand. The image bore a striking resemblance to the official portrait of Sergeant Pena, which had been released by the French military. Manipulators exploited the soldier’s Russian heritage and physical resemblance to sow confusion among the public.
When experts in the Sahel region examined the macabre images, they identified footage from the Tinzaouatène battle, which took place two years ago in northern Mali. Reverse image searches revealed the same photo of the body in higher resolution, this time identified as a Russian mercenary. Independent verification proved impossible, as the image originated from an anonymous forum where unverified claims are frequently posted.
Propaganda video from 2024
Analysis of a six-minute propaganda video published in 2025 by the Azawad Liberation Front on the first anniversary of the battle confirmed the image of the body alongside other Russian combatants. While the footage is blurry, the body positioning, camouflage patterns, facial features, and hairstyles match.
This disinformation is based on a misattributed image: an archival photo showing Wagner Group elements killed in Tinzaouatène in 2024, not a French soldier supposedly found in Anéfis in 2026.
Failed disinformation fails to gain traction
The narrative accusing French troops of collaborating with terrorists is not new. However, this particular false claim remained confined to accounts known for spreading Sahelian propaganda. At this stage, it received little amplification. Commentators widely denounced the attempt at manipulation, signaling the limits of a narrative that has been repeated for four years.
At this point, X has recorded fewer than 50,000 views of the misleading posts. However, the attempt represents an egregious case of identity theft of a fallen French soldier and an affront to his memory.
