Russia has maintained its Africa Corps in Mali despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Corps, a new Russian military presence in West Africa, was created after the collapse of the Wagner Group and the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin. It operates directly under the Russian government and focuses on training local forces, joint operations, drone use, intelligence gathering, and protecting key facilities.
In early 2024, Mali’s security situation worsened as Tuareg rebels and jihadist groups launched coordinated attacks across multiple fronts—from Kidal and Tessalit to Gao, Mopti, and areas near Bamako. With only about 2,500 Russian troops in the country, the Corps could not cover the vast territory and had to prioritize key positions, abandoning some bases.
The situation highlights the limits of Russia’s strategy: while it can provide drones, advisors and special forces, it cannot replace Mali’s own army, which faces structural problems. With the Ukraine conflict still a priority, Moscow is unlikely to expand its presence in Mali further and will likely continue to rely on limited support rather than a large ground force.