Russian MoD-controlled successor to Wagner in Africa. Took over in Mali in Jun 2025 (~1,000–2,000), with ~300 in Burkina and ~100 in Niger (Wikipedia est.). Withdrew from Kidal, Aguelhok and Tessalit in Apr–May 2026 (Algerian-mediated; back in Aguelhok by Jul) and pulled back to protect Bamako. Lost an Mi-35 near Gao. Returned to Kidal ~6 Oct 2026. Helped crush the Niger coup attempt (Aug 2026, reportedly with FPV drones). Russia claims 2,500+ militants killed.
Leader(s): Commanders reported: Andrey Averyanov, Vladimir Selivyorstov
Origin: Russia (MoD / GRU)
Area of operation: Kidal Region, Gao & Ménaka, Bamako & Kati, Mopti & Bandiagara (central Mali), Niamey, Burkina Centre-Nord & Nord
Recent (to 21 Oct 2026)
- Claimed drone strikes: Lancet on an FLA/JNIM fuel point (14 Sep) and on a camp (12 Oct), an FPV detachment hitting a fuel pickup (16 Oct) (D3, Africa Corps (official channel), t.me/TheAfricanCorps/2609, 14 Sep 2026), (D3, Africa Corps (official channel), t.me/TheAfricanCorps/2726, 16 Oct 2026). Losses: see Kaka ambush (Sep 2026).
- 13–14 Sep: a Russian convoy (cargo ship Anastasiia, escorted by a Ropucha-class landing ship) from Baltiysk docked at Tobruk with MRAPs, Tornado-U armoured vehicles and Ural trucks; onward transit to the Sahel is alleged, not shown (D2, Departamente, t.me/departamente/8194, 23 Sep 2026).
- 8–9 Aug: claimed an air strike that destroyed an ‘FLA and JNIM coalition’ camp (unlocated) and an IED cleared with FAMa engineers (D4, Africa Corps (official channel), x.com/TheAfricaCorps/status/2086023863708914052, 8 Aug 2026). A Russian Su-34/Su-24 was reported over the Kidal region on 4 Aug (C4, Faytuks News Discord (west-africa-sahel) via @Amajagh, x.com/Amajagh/status/2084643447328100467, 4 Aug 2026). Convoy build-up: see Kidal retaken (Oct 2026).
- Resource sites: reportedly sent to oversee the Intahaka artisanal gold site after the Nov 2025 takeover; withdrew with FAMa in Apr 2026 and appears in footage of the Oct 2026 return. No source ties it to guarding Arlit uranium (SOMAIR uranium mine (Arlit)). Russia says it freed a Russian geologist kidnapped in Niger (Jul 2024 – Apr 2026). See 03 Resources Map.
Relationships
- Partners with: FAMa (Mali)
- Partners with: FAN (Niger)
- Partners with: Burkina Faso armed forces
- Successor of: Wagner Group
- Fights: JNIM
- Fights: FLA
- Fights: ISSP
Referenced by
- Africa Corps (official channel) (Mouthpiece of)
- African Initiative (Promotes)
- April 2026 FLA-JNIM offensive (Defender)
- Belye Dyadi v Afrike (wagner_group2022) (Amplifies)
- Burkina Faso armed forces (Partners with)
- Departamente (Amplifies)
- FAMa (Mali) (Partners with)
- FAN (Niger) (Partners with)
- FLA (Fights)
- Intahaka artisanal gold site (Overseen by (2025–26, reported))
- JNIM (Fights)
- Kaka ambush (Sep 2026) (Defender)
- Kidal artisanal gold zone (Adrar des Ifoghas) (Contested by)
- Kidal retaken (Oct 2026) (Retaken by)
- Niger coup attempt (Aug 2026) (Suppressed by)
- Ukraine (HUR) (Hostile to)