Mali receives massive supplies of Russian military hardware amid Moscow’s pivot from Syria

Russia has reportedly delivered military equipment, including tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery systems to Mali, which observers suspect may have been moved there from Syria following the departure of Russian troops after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
According to reports from Defense Web, Africa’s leading defense news portal, Mali could be another recipient of military hardware that Russia begun withdrawing from Syria, some of which may have been diverted to Libya. Photos and videos are circulating on social media, showing a convoy of over 100 vehicles arriving in Mali’s capital Bamako on 17 January, half which were trucks and the remainder included tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, towed artillery pieces, two anti-aircraft cannons, and a couple of boats.
While Russian experts suggest the primary recipient is the African Corps, Wagner PMC’s successor, Malian officials have claimed the equipment is destined for the Sahel country’s national armed forces. “Currently, the local indigenous population, supported by Western countries, is confronting Russian mercenaries and the pro-Russian Malian government,” Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said in a statement. “Most likely, the equipment will be distributed between the Wagner PMC units and government forces as part of strengthening the counteraction to paramilitary units in the country and terrorist organizations,” it added.
The so-called “African Corps,” established in late 2023 and reportedly operated under direct control of the Russian Ministry of Defense, coordinates Russia’s military presence in Africa, focusing on the Sahel region, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.