Answer: Russian paramilitary organization
Notes: Russia's Wagner mercenary group reported severe losses, including a commander, in battles with separatist forces in northeast Mali. Wagner, a private military company founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, emerged in 2014 during Russia's annexation of Crimea and operates in several countries including Syria, Libya, and Mali. Despite being technically illegal in Russia, it registered as a "private military company" in 2022.
