Following the withdrawal of French forces from Operation Barkhane and the conclusion of the United Nations mission (MINUSMA), Mali embarked on a significant strategic reorientation towards Moscow. This collaboration is now epitomized by the Africa Corps, an entity directly under the purview of the Russian Ministry of Defence. However, after several years on the ground, the security outcomes raise serious questions, casting doubt on the efficacy of this “mercenary” model in confronting a complex, multifaceted crisis.

A visible struggle in crisis management

The stated objective of Mali’s transitional government was unequivocal: to regain the upper hand against terrorist factions, specifically the JNIM and EIGS. While the Africa Corps did achieve a highly symbolic display of force with the capture of Kidal in late 2023, the overarching results on security remain tenuous.

On the ground, a clear stalemate persists. Terrorist assaults show no signs of abating; indeed, a more alarming trend sees them encroaching closer to the capital, Bamako. The perceived invincibility of Russian “instructors” was shattered during the July 2024 debacle at Tinzawatène. There, Russian paramilitaries sustained some of their most significant historical losses after falling into an ambush orchestrated by CSP rebels and jihadist groups near the Algerian border.

The inability to maintain control over territory is starkly evident. While the Africa Corps demonstrates proficiency in swift, targeted “punch” operations, it consistently struggles to establish long-term security in areas it has recaptured. Once their convoys depart, civilian populations frequently find themselves isolated and highly susceptible to brutal reprisals from armed factions.

The grey zone: a complete lack of accountability

A primary challenge associated with the Africa Corps stems from its ambiguous hybrid status. Unlike a conventional military, the group operates under a veil of complete legal opaqueness, giving rise to two significant issues:

• Impunity for abuses: Numerous non-governmental organizations have documented alleged violence against civilians during sweep operations. As the Africa Corps is not an official state entity bound by international law, it evades any form of accountability. For victims seeking redress, the path to justice remains a legal dead end.
• Security for resources: The group’s economic model raises questions about its true priorities. Frequently deployed near critical mining sites, such as those for gold and lithium, Africa Corps personnel appear more focused on safeguarding extractive assets than on securing vital communication routes or isolated rural communities. In this context, security seems to function as a commodity for exchange rather than a public service.

“The security of a state cannot be sustainably outsourced to actors whose primary motivations are pecuniary and geopolitical.”

Malian sovereignty under severe strain

This alliance has placed the Malian state in an precarious position. By severing ties with its former partners without achieving conclusive results, Bamako has become increasingly reliant on Moscow, which now significantly influences the national security agenda.

Furthermore, the presence of Africa Corps has strained relations with ECOWAS and neighboring nations, complicating essential cross-border cooperation vital for containing the Sahelian threat. A tangible risk also exists for the weakening of the national army (FAMA); local forces express concerns about being marginalized or potentially deployed as “cannon fodder” in operations directed by commanders whose objectives may not align with the imperatives of local peace.

The shortcomings of the current crisis management strategy underscore a harsh truth: without fundamental political solutions and genuine accountability to its citizens, foreign intervention — whether from Western powers or Russia — consistently confronts the same intractable reality. The Malian conflict is fundamentally rooted in governance failures, an ailment that mercenaries, regardless of their armament, cannot remedy.