Russia deepens defence and economic ties with Africa, filling security gaps left by the West, especially in Mali, amid Wagner’s exit and ongoing regional instability.

Russia is intensifying its cooperation with African nations, particularly in the areas of defence and security, the Kremlin stated on Monday.
"We genuinely intend to comprehensively develop our engagement with African countries, with a primary focus on economic and investment collaboration," said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
"This also applies to and encompasses sensitive domains such as defence and security. In this context, Russia will continue its interaction and cooperation with African states."

Russia’s involvement in Africa’s security landscape has drawn increased attention, particularly following the announcement last week by the Wagner mercenary group of its withdrawal from Mali.
Wagner forces had been operating in Mali since December 2021 and have faced repeated accusations of human rights violations.

Following Wagner’s failed mutiny in 2023 and the suspicious death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Moscow restructured its military operations in Africa and established the Africa Corps. This Kremlin-controlled paramilitary force is set to remain in Mali even after Wagner’s exit.

“There is a void in the Sahel left by the departure of Western states, especially by the French, the United States, and other European countries,” said Rida Lyammouri, an analyst at the Morocco-based Policy Center for the New South.
“So this is an opportunity for Russia that is going to cost them basically almost nothing. Not nothing, but it’s an easy win that’s not going to require a lot of resources to be mobilized to exert that influence in the region.”

Governments in the Sahel region have turned to Russian-backed armed forces to fight militants affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Armed groups in Mali have inflicted significant losses on both Malian troops and Russian mercenaries.
The al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) killed dozens of soldiers in an attack on a military base earlier this month. Militants also killed several Wagner mercenaries in northern Mali in July 2024.

“Russia’s presence through its mercenary group Wagner in Mali is different than its presence in Burkina Faso and Niger. In Mali, Wagner fighters operate directly alongside the Malian military,” Lyammouri explained.
“They have assisted in retaking northern regions from rebel groups, but they continue to face challenges in the fight against JNIM and the Islamic State in the Sahara, as evidenced by the recent series of attacks across the country.”

Despite ongoing Western sanctions, Russia continues to supply West African nations with advanced weaponry, including tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery, using cargo ships. Satellite imagery reviewed by the Associated Press revealed that ships carrying weapons docked and unloaded in Conakry, Guinea, in late May.
Russia and China remain the top arms suppliers to the African continent.