Mali: Wagner Group replaced by Russian-owned Africa Corps

The Russian private military contractor, the Wagner Group, is set to be replaced in Mali by the Kremlin’s own Africa Corps, marking a significant shift in the optics of Moscow’s strategy.

The group, which employs an estimated 2000 mercenaries in Mali and has spent more than three years aiding government forces, has already left according to France24 on 8th June.

While the replacements, the Africa Corps, will not change much on the ground in Bamako, the rebranding shows a growing confidence on the side of Moscow.

The Africa Corps are directly controlled by the Russian government whereas Wagner, though state-funded, has its own leader and ostensibly more independence.

Mali’s ruling junta realigned its military strategy after seizing power in 2021, throwing out French troops and inviting in Russian fighters instead.

Only last week, on 1st June, Jihadist attacks in Timbuktu rocked Mali, an often familiar story in the troubled nation.

Huge swathes of northern Mali remain out of government control, presided over by the pro-independence Tuareg movement, the Azawad forces, as well as Islamic terror groups.

The presence of Russian forces is critical for Mali’s president Assimi Goita to retain a semblance of stability, and perhaps even take back the north.

The Malian Army and its Wagner partners retook large chunks of land from Azawad in 2023, capturing the key rebel stronghold of Kidal in November.

While Mali and Wagner suffered a disastrous defeat in near the Algerian border in July 2024, revenge drone strikes in December 2024 reportedly killed eight Tuareg rebel leaders in the same area.

Of course, Moscow isn’t doing it for free and looks hungrily at the country’s lucrative gold industry, looking to incubate the developing industry and enjoy its fruits.

Gold has been a key element of Russia’s strategy against sanctions imposed by Western-aligned countries following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

France24, Maghrebi.org