On June 25, 2025, the Associated Press (AP) reported that Russia was significantly increasing its military presence in Africa, bolstering the Afrika Korps with heavy weapons and advanced equipment in Mali. According to sources and satellite images, Moscow has sent tanks, armored vehicles, howitzers, and electronic warfare systems to the region, using cargo ships to deliver them through the port of Conakry in Guinea. This information is supported by videos from a Malian blogger who recorded a convoy of military equipment on the RN5 highway leading to Bamako, the capital of Mali.

According to an AP investigation, in May 2025, Russian vessels Baltic Leader and Patria delivered a shipment of weapons, including howitzers and electronic warfare systems, to Conakry, which were then shipped overland to Mali. A similar shipment took place in January 2025 through the same port, indicating Russia’s systematic strengthening of its position in the Sahel region. Satellite images analyzed by AP confirmed the unloading of military equipment in Conakry, and geolocated videos by a blogger showed a convoy of dozens of vehicles, including armored vehicles, heading deep into Mali.

Formed in 2023, the Afrika Korps replaced the private military company Wagner after it was disbanded. According to MEMRI, the corps actively recruits artillery specialists, drone operators, and electronic warfare experts.