On April 27, Moscow’s Africa Corps officially acknowledged the withdrawal of its troops from Kati, a strategic garrison town just 20 kilometers from Bamako, alongside Malian army forces. Since seizing power in 2021, the military junta led by Colonel Assimi Goïta has transformed Kati into the nerve center of the country’s political and military operations.
Described by Vedomosti as “a paramilitary unit established by the Russian Ministry of Defense to conduct operations across Africa”, the Africa Corps was formed in 2023 to replace private military contractors—a veiled reference to the now-defunct Wagner Group. This shadowy entity had previously operated in Mali under a clandestine arrangement with the Kremlin to combat terrorism and bolster security, particularly after the withdrawal of French forces.
The transition occurred following the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner’s founder, in August 2023. Since then, the Africa Corps has taken over Wagner’s responsibilities in the region, raising questions about Moscow’s evolving strategy in the Sahel.
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