While still fighting a war in Ukraine, Russia is quietly building up its military power across Africa. This is happening even though the U.S. and European countries have placed strong sanctions on Russian cargo ships, hoping to cut off the flow of weapons and funds. But the country has found ways to get around these restrictions.
The Associated Press tracked Russian-flagged cargo ships that sailed for nearly a month from the Baltic Sea to West Africa. Onboard were powerful weapons: tanks, armored vehicles, howitzers (which are heavy guns), and radio jamming equipment. These tools are being sent to countries like Mali, where fighting with terror groups linked to al-Qaida and ISIS has been going on for years.
Two Russian ships—Baltic Leader and Patria—unloaded in Conakry, Guinea, in late May. These ships are under Western sanctions, but they still completed their mission. After the ships docked, trucks loaded with weapons rolled out toward Mali’s capital, Bamako. A blogger’s video and satellite images confirmed the movement, showing convoys of Russian-made equipment moving along Mali’s RN5 highway.
The military shipment featured 152 mm artillery cannons, BTR-80 armored vehicles equipped with radio-jamming systems, Spartak armored carriers armed with mounted guns, small inflatable boats—one displaying a painted Russian flag—and fuel tankers labeled “inflammable”.
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Russia’s New Military Force in Africa
For years, the Kremlin allowed private groups like Wagner to work in Africa. These groups, made up of Russian mercenaries, were known for being tough and were active in countries like Sudan, Libya, and the Central African Republic. In exchange for their help, they often received rights to mine gold or other resources.
But in 2023, the leader of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died in a mysterious plane crash, just months after a brief rebellion in Russia. After that, the Russian government started taking direct control of its African operations. A new group, called the Africa Corps, has now replaced Wagner in places like Mali.
According to experts, Africa Corps is being given the most advanced equipment from these recent shipments. The European Union says the group is run by Maj. Gen. Andrey Averyanov, who also leads Unit 29155, a secret part of Russia’s GRU military intelligence. This unit has been accused of conducting covert sabotage operations and attacks in foreign countries.
The Africa Corps has also been recruiting soldiers in Russia. They are offering as much as 2.1 million rubles (around $26,500) and even plots of land to anyone willing to join. Soon after the latest equipment delivery, Wagner posted a message saying “mission accomplished” and left Mali. The Africa Corps quickly announced it would stay.
A researcher named Julia Stanyard, who studies Russian mercenaries, said this shows a big shift. She pointed out that bringing in new and powerful weapons clearly means Africa Corps is taking over in a more serious and official way.
Military Escorts and Red Flags
Another unusual detail from this recent arms delivery is that a Russian warship, the Boykiy, traveled with the cargo ships. This kind of military escort is not normal for these operations and has raised concerns among Western officials. In fact, last year, the same ship pointed its radar at a French surveillance plane—a move considered hostile.
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A third Russian ship in the convoy, the Siyanie Severa, didn’t stop in Guinea. It went further south and docked in Bata, Equatorial Guinea. Satellite images showed trucks at the dock, but it’s unclear what they were unloading or where it was going. Russian mercenaries, especially Wagner, have been active in nearby Central African Republic, so it’s possible the shipment was connected to that.
According to the European Union, Russia’s growing military presence is supporting military juntas—governments that took power through coups—in several African countries. They say this is hurting peace and democracy. Meanwhile, rebel attacks are still killing soldiers and mercenaries. Just recently, fighters linked to al-Qaida killed dozens of troops in northern Mali.
Some of the weapons sent over, like the jamming gear, could be used to stop phone-triggered bombs, which have been a serious danger for troops and Russian contractors alike.
