How Guinea became a gateway for Russian weapons to reach the Sahel
Despite the departure of the Wagner Group from Mali, Russia is continuing to strengthen its military presence in the country through its Africa Corps. Using satellite imagery, shipping logs and eyewitness reports, journalists from RFI have confirmed that Russia is discreetly shipping in large quantities of military equipment via the port of Conakry in neighbouring Guinea.
Data collected by RFI's Info Vérif investigative unit shows that Russia is using a logistics hub in Guinea's capital Conakry, on Africa's west coast.
So far this year, three convoys have been transported by sea from Russia to the port of Conakry, before reaching land-locked Mali by road, RFI found.
Mali's national news channel (ORTM ) confirmed the arrival of a military convoy made up of several dozen transport trucks, escorted through Bamako by Malian police, on 31 May.
According to the report: "The Malian army has strengthened its operational capabilities through the acquisition of new equipment."
The source of this equipment was not mentioned in the report, and the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) have not commented officially about the arrival of the convoy.
Wagner replaced in Mali by Africa Corps, another Russian military group
The news came a week before Russia's decision on 6 June to pull the paramilitary group Wagner out of Mali and replace it with the Africa Corps, which is more closely controlled by the Kremlin.
Read more on RFI EnglishRead also:Sahel ministers in Russia for talks after breaking with western alliesProtests grow in Mali as opposition leader faces trial over junta criticismWagner mercenaries and Mali army accused of killing civilians near Gao
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Chicago Tribune
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- Chicago Tribune
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- Boston Globe
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