Recently Spotted Russian Military Column in Mali Outguns Entire Malian Army

A Russian military column , reportedly larger and better equipped than the entire Malian army, has been spotted in Mali, a Ukrainian military outlet Defense Express reported on January 20.

The convoy, which includes seven T-72B3 and T-90M tanks, five BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, and over 50 other armored vehicles, was confirmed by Russia’s Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies via its bmpd blog.

Initially, local media posts surfaced showing Russian-manufactured military hardware moving through Mali. Subsequent analysis identified the convoy as part of the Russian Ministry of Defense’s so-called ‘African Corps.’

This unit is a rebranded version of the Wagner Group , now under direct Russian military control, continuing operations across Africa, including Mali and Libya.

The scale of the column highlights Russia’s deepening presence on the continent, raising questions about its military footprint in Mali. The convoy’s equipment alone appears comparable to or even surpasses, Mali’s entire ground forces in strength and firepower.

According to The Military Balance 2024, Mali’s armed forces comprise 19,000 personnel and a small inventory of ground vehicles, including:

• 2 PT-76 amphibious tanks

• 5 BRDM-2 armored reconnaissance vehicles

• 63 armored personnel carriers

• 274 wheeled armored vehicles

• Artillery assets such as over 30 D-30 howitzers and BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers

In contrast, the Russian column, even with a single deployment, demonstrates an overwhelming advantage in both quantity and advanced technology if compared with Mali’s entire armed forces.

It also draws attention to the fact that some equipment, including tanks, has appropriate inscriptions on the sides, indicating that it was transported by rail. At the same time, anti-drone protection is mounted on the tanks' turrets.

According to OSINT specialist Casus Belli, this equipment could have been transported by the Russian army from Syria, where it is currently evacuating military property, armored vehicles, and personnel.

Russia has deployed Wagner PMC units in Mali, which became more active after the French military left the country in 2022. The French Armed Forces operated in Mali as part of Operations Serval and Barkhane from 2013 to 2022 and countered illegal military groups, including ISIS, which tried to seize power.

While the exact number of Russian troops and total military assets deployed in Mali remains undisclosed, the presence of such a heavily armed column underscores Moscow’s broader strategic objectives in Africa. Under the guise of the ‘African Corps,’ Russia fortified its military influence, positioning itself as a key player in regional conflicts.

Earlier, reports emerged that two African nations—Sudan and Libya—took steps to limit Russian military presence, complicating Russia’s efforts to maintain influence on the continent following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria.