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Russian Firms Facilitate Arms Shipments to Africa Corps in Mali via Guinea
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In the first five months of 2025, three large Russian military convoys—packed with tanks, armored cars, and boats—arrived in Bamako, signaling Moscow’s deepening commitment to Mali as the state-controlled Africa Corps formally replaces the Wagner Group, The Sentry reported on April 21.
According to a new investigation, these weapons deliveries came during a turbulent transition period for Russian forces in the Sahel. The Wagner Group, which had operated in Mali since late 2021, officially announced its withdrawal in June 2025.
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Wagner’s exit followed a string of strategic failures: the mercenaries were unable to secure significant battlefield victories against regional insurgents and ultimately failed to seize control of Mali’s lucrative gold mining sector. Throughout their deployment, Wagner forces committed widespread atrocities against Malian civilians while reportedly receiving direct payments from Moscow.
The Sentry wrote that, to replace the disgraced private military company, the Kremlin has deployed the Africa Corps. While the new group absorbs many former Wagner fighters and maintains a similar troop count, its operational structure is vastly different. The Africa Corps is directly tied to the Russian state apparatus, adopting a much more risk-averse, protective posture toward its own troops compared to Wagner’s aggressive forward operations.
Sources in Bamako confirmed to The Sentry that the recently arrived Russian equipment—despite Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) claims that it was for the national military—is primarily intended for emerging Africa Corps bases.
Moscow is also establishing a new logistics network to project power across West Africa. The recent military convoys were facilitated through the Guinea Conakry port terminal. The port is operated by two Russian-Guinean companies—ACG-Fria and Compagnie des Bauxites de Kindia (CBK), both subsidiaries of the Russian aluminum giant UC Rusal.
This arrangement highlights a change in Russian strategy: while Wagner historically used military force to gain access to mining concessions, the Africa Corps is utilizing established Russian and Guinean corporate infrastructure to facilitate its military deployments.
Despite the rebranding and structural changes, the devastating toll on Malian civilians remains constant. Recent reports show escalating incidents of extreme violence perpetrated by Africa Corps fighters, particularly in northern Mali and along the Mauritanian border, including summary executions, torture, and mutilation.
According to previous UK Intelligence reports, Russia has replaced Wagner private mercenaries with state-controlled Africa Corps in order to give Russian leader Vladimir Putin direct control over foreign military operations and secure African resources following the 2023 Wagner mutiny. With new Russian arms now flowing into the Sahel through commercial ports in Guinea, the Africa Corps is expanding its military presence across the region, continuing a campaign of violence that has already displaced thousands of Malian civilians.
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