How pro-AES accounts tried to spread fake news about a french soldier in Mali
The recent clashes in Anefis, Mali, between July 4 and 9, 2026, saw the Malian army, backed by Russian Wagner Group elements, engage terrorist factions. Yet, amid the dust of battle, a dangerous disinformation campaign emerged, attempting to falsely link a deceased French soldier to the conflict.
a tragic accident exploited for propaganda
On July 7, a French military exercise in the French Alps claimed the life of Sergeant Pena, a Russian-born legionnaire. The military authorities swiftly confirmed his identity and circumstances. However, as early as July 9, pro-AES accounts on X (formerly Twitter) began circulating misleading posts, suggesting an alternative scenario: the soldier had allegedly died in Anefis alongside rebels from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM).
a corpse from tinzaouatène
The manipulation escalated the next day with the publication of a photo allegedly showing the dead soldier. The image depicted a white man lying in the sand, bearing a resemblance to the French legionnaire. However, forensic analysis of the photo revealed it was an archived image from the Tinzaouatène battle of 2024, where Russian mercenaries, not French soldiers, were killed. A reverse image search confirmed the same individual appeared in an anonymous forum, identified as a Wagner Group member.
video evidence from 2024
A six-minute propaganda video released by the MNLA in 2025 to mark the first anniversary of the Tinzaouatène battle provided further evidence. The footage included the same body, alongside other Russian fighters. Detailed analysis of body positioning, camouflage patterns, facial features, and hairstyles confirmed the images matched the 2024 incident, not a 2026 event in Anefis.
a failed disinformation attempt
This disinformation campaign, rooted in an out-of-context image of a Wagner Group mercenary killed in 2024, sought to falsely implicate a French soldier in the conflict. Despite the orchestrated effort, the narrative struggled to gain traction. Pro-AES accounts, known for spreading Sahelian propaganda, amplified the posts minimally. Public reactions included widespread skepticism, with many users calling out the manipulation. This failure underscores the growing fatigue with repetitive narratives that have circulated for years without credible evidence.
As of now, the misleading posts have garnered fewer than 50,000 views on X. Yet, the attempt to impersonate a deceased French soldier and distort facts remains a grave ethical violation, tarnishing the memory of a serviceman who died in the line of duty.
