Wagner’s So-Called Exit from Mali Masks Kremlin’s Growing Military Presence Under New Branding
Just days after the Kremlin claimed that Wagner Group had completed its withdrawal from Mali, hard evidence on the ground suggests otherwise. Under a fresh name and deeper Kremlin control, Russia is not pulling back — it is entrenching.
“Wagner Is Gone”—But Is It?
On June 6, 2025, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the official end of Wagner’s mission in Mali, claiming the mercenaries were leaving the country after 3.5 years. The story was presented as a clean transition to more “legitimate” military cooperation.
However, reporting by the Associated Press indicates that the move was largely cosmetic.
Wagner fighters didn’t board planes to return home. They simply changed uniforms and simply re-enlisted under the Africa Corps, a Kremlin-controlled entity created earlier this year.Kremlin’s growing presence in Africa
The Africa Corps, announced in January 2024, is officially managed by the Russian Ministry of Defense and Kremlin officials. But its formation has not reduced Russia’s operational capacity in Mali — in fact, it’s doing the opposite.
A military base near Bamako airport, previously used by Wagner, is now under Africa Corps control. Helicopters, surveillance drones, and Russian advisors remain in place.
In fact, the Kremlin has expanded weapons shipments to its African outposts.
Between late 2024 and early 2025, Russia quietly shipped tanks, artillery, rocket launchers, and other heavy weaponry to West Africa via the port of Conakry, Guinea.
According to AP’s investigation, one Russian vessel alone delivered nearly 1,000 tons of military cargo, including:
T-62 tanks
D-30 howitzers
BM-21 Grad rocket systems
Electronic warfare vehicles
Ammunition and spare parts
These shipments followed earlier deliveries of Su-24 bombers and modernized Russian helicopters.
Russian mercenaries killed in ambush
On June 13, just one week after Wagner’s supposed exit, a deadly ambush in the Kidal region exposed the Kremlin’s narrative as hollow. Fighters from the Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA) attacked a joint convoy of Malian troops and Africa Corps personnel near Aguelhok.
According to the FLA’s communiqué, the convoy — more than 40 vehicles strong — included tanks, ambulances, fuel trucks, bulldozers, and was under air support. The rebels claim to have:
Destroyed 21 vehicles
Killed “several dozen” enemy fighters, including Russians
Captured drones, communication equipment, fuel, and military documents
The FLA reported only three casualties on its side.
“Azawad is not a proving ground for foreign mercenaries,” the FLA wrote. “Any power complicit in Mali’s repression will be treated as a legitimate target.”
Denial, Rebranding, Entrenchment: The Kremlin Playbook
What’s happening in Mali fits a now-familiar Kremlin template — one seen in Ukraine, Syria, and Libya:
Use of paramilitary forces for plausible deniability
Switch branding or ownership when exposed
Deepen military involvement while claiming withdrawal
“When Russia says it’s stepping back, it’s often digging in deeper,” said a regional security analyst quoted in the AP’s reporting.
In this case, Wagner hasn’t exited. It’s been repackaged under the Africa Corps label, complete with heavier weapons and more direct state control — not less.
The Kremlin’s claim of Wagner’s withdrawal was a carefully orchestrated deception. The reality is stark:
Russia is investing more deeply in West Africa’s militarization, not retreating from it. Its strategy relies not only on soldiers, but also on misinformation and misdirection.
The flags may have changed. The boots — and the guns — have not.
