Maxar satellite imagery from 26 February showed ongoing construction work at the former site of the Wagner Group, a private military contractor, indicating the expansion of Russia’s military base in Mali.
The construction site, located at Modibo Keita International Airport near Bamako, shows new buildings, roads and excavations, indicating increased activity since July, Military Africa reported.
Despite the death of Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin in August 2023, Russia remains committed to increasing its presence in Mali and the wider region, which has seen a string of coups over the past few years. The move follows Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s announcement last June that Wagner members would continue operations in Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR).
Moreover, Russia’s creation of an “African Legion” to replace the Wagner group underlines its commitment to its strategic interests in Africa. The African Legion, formed in August 2023, is made up of former Wagner operatives and private security guards and is designed to provide security, training and protection of Russian interests across the continent, Military Africa reported.
While Russia’s involvement in Africa is under intense international scrutiny, the expansion of its base in Mali confirms its determination to assert its influence in the region.
The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has begun openly supporting military juntas in West Africa, including in Mali, according to a recent report by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) published last autumn.
At the same time, Bamako has signed deals with Russian state energy company Rosatom to produce nuclear power, and an unnamed Russian firm has agreed to build a solar power plant in Mali.
