Faced with isolation in the West after its offensive in Ukraine, Moscow has sought to build new partnerships in Africa, where it has expanded its political, economic and military influence in recent years.
– Officers and soldiers of a unit of the Russian armed forces are already operating in six African countries – said a correspondent of the state television in a report broadcast on Sunday.
Apart from Mali, the report did not specify which countries were involved.
Russian troops or military instructors are reported to be additionally deployed in Burkina Faso, Niger, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic and Libya.
A unit of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Africa Corps has taken over from the Wagner paramilitary group across the continent, diplomatic sources in the Sahel region told AFP in June.
Wagner’s group was disbanded and restructured after its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a mysterious plane crash in August 2023 following a short-lived rebellion against Moscow.
Its soldiers fought in Ukraine and were deployed across Africa.
In a state television report, the Afrika Korps was identified as part of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
It said most of the troops deployed were “veterans of Special Military Operations”, the Russian term for the war in Ukraine.
In one shot, a flag with markings reminiscent of the Wagner Group’s trademark skull logo could be seen at what the journalist said was a Russian base in Mali.
The video also showed two Russian bombers launching the attack and showed heavy Russian equipment, including helicopters and armored personnel carriers.
Moscow claims its forces are helping several African governments deter extremist rebellions, reports AFP.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
