In a rare move, Moscow has officially acknowledged the deployment of its military forces in six African countries, according to a report broadcast by Russian state television earlier this week. The channel’s correspondent stated that “officers and soldiers of the Russian armed forces are active in six African countries,” mentioning Mali specifically while refraining from naming the others.
Previous reports indicate that Russia has sent soldiers or military trainers to Libya, Burkina Faso, Niger, Equatorial Guinea, and the Central African Republic, in addition to Mali, as part of expanding defense relations in recent years. Moscow asserts that its presence aims to support governments in combating armed Islamist groups.
According to the television report, the “African Legion” operates under the supervision of the Russian Ministry of Defense, serving as the official military arm that replaced the Wagner Group after its disbandment and restructuring following the death of its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in August 2023 during a mysterious plane crash after his brief rebellion against the Russian leadership.
Previously, Wagner forces had been deployed in Ukraine and several African countries before the African Legion units assumed their roles, according to diplomatic sources in the Sahel region.
The report noted that most of the Legion’s personnel deployed in Africa are “veterans of the special military operation”—the Russian official term for the war in Ukraine—reflecting Moscow’s approach of integrating seasoned fighters into its foreign operations.
The broadcast also included footage from what was described as a Russian base in Mali, where a flag bearing a symbol similar to the Wagner Group’s emblem was raised, signaling the continuation of the old symbolism despite the organizational restructuring.
This Russian acknowledgment comes at a time when Moscow’s influence on the African continent is increasing, capitalizing on security vacuums and the decline of Western presence, particularly France’s extensive influence in several Sahel regions.