Russian forces have launched a renewed air campaign in Mali as the Russian Africa Corps (REK) assumes responsibility from the Wagner Group in supporting the Malian military’s fight against al-Qaeda-linked militants.
Recent videos posted to social media show Russian Mi-24 attack helicopters and SU-24 bombers carrying out airstrikes against militant positions, as well as providing air support to Malian troops during ground engagements.
Last week, Russia’s private military company, the Wagner Group, announced its withdrawal from Mali, ending a deployment that began in late 2021 at the invitation of the Malian government. In its place, Russia's Africa Corps—operating directly under the Russian Ministry of Defense—has stepped in, signaling a more official and potentially expanded Russian commitment to Bamako in its battle against the group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate.
Reports of REK troop deployments to Mali began to surface in late May.
On June 1, JNIM militants launched a large-scale assault on a Malian military base near the towns of Boulkessi and Tessit in northern Mali, resulting in Malian casualties and the temporary loss of the base. A subsequent attack on June 4 was reportedly repelled with the assistance of Russian air power.
On June 7, SU-24 bombers were said to have carried out extensive airstrikes across western Mali targeting JNIM strongholds. Video footage released on social media has corroborated the strikes and confirmed the deployment of Russian aircraft.
Mali has undergone two military coups since 2020, after which its ruling junta expelled French military forces who had long supported counterterrorism operations in the country. The transitional government has since turned to Russia for security support, with Wagner fighters first arriving in late 2021.
The decision to replace Wagner with the Africa Corps may also be linked to recent Russian claims that Ukraine is aiding jihadist militants in the Sahel. After a May 30 attack in Boulkessi, Russian state media reported that jihadi fighters possessed equipment bearing Ukrainian markings, including drones and mobile phones allegedly containing documents linked to Ukraine’s security services.
In July 2024, a major ambush near the town of Tinzaouaten resulted in over 100 deaths among Malian and Wagner personnel. Ukrainian officials later claimed to have supported the attack, prompting Mali—along with its allies Burkina Faso and Niger—to sever diplomatic ties with Kiev. More recently, Malian officials have gone so far as to label Ukraine a “terrorist state.”