Armed group profile · SD Strength Index
Africa Corps: military strength 2026
What is the Africa Corps?
It is Russia's state military force in Africa, not a private company. The Russian Defence Ministry has run it under military intelligence oversight since 2024 and 2025, and in June 2025 it took over the Wagner Group's mission in Mali after Wagner declared its work there complete.
Host governments pay for it from their national budgets and add access to mining concessions. Mali reportedly pays about $10 million a month and has spent nearly $1 billion on Wagner and Africa Corps since late 2021.
It ranks behind the Houthis and M23 on the index and ahead of Hezbollah. Full Russian backing explains most of that. Its record in Mali since April explains why it is not higher.
How many troops does the Africa Corps have?
Silent Dossier estimates 4,600 to 8,000 across Africa. Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, claims the number abroad rose from 4,618 at the end of 2025 to 6,180 by July 2026, and lists new deployments in Togo, Madagascar and Mozambique. Russia publishes no figure.
Mali has the largest contingent, about 2,000 to 2,500, and one count during the April offensive put as few as 400 in a single theatre. The Central African Republic has about 1,500, Burkina Faso 100 to 300 and Niger about 100. Smaller detachments serve in Equatorial Guinea and Libya, where strength has been unknown since a 2022 drawdown.
No split between professionals and irregulars is on record. The force is made up of contract soldiers, former Wagner fighters and other private military hires, many with combat experience in Africa and Ukraine, and it is recruiting more Africans locally. It is a paid force under central command, closer to an expeditionary unit than a militia.
What weapons does the Africa Corps use?
On the ground it runs Russian armour: BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, BTR-82A carriers and Tigr vehicles with Arbalet remote weapon stations, mostly for escort and patrol. At least three large Russian shipments of tanks, armoured vehicles, trucks and boats reached Bamako between January and May 2025. They were nominally for the Malian army and reportedly earmarked largely for Africa Corps. No count separates its holdings from Mali's.
Air power is its real edge. Mi-24 and Mi-35 attack helicopters fly close support and convoy cover, and a Russian air combat unit was reported flying from Bamako's airports from May 2026. Africa Corps channels confirmed FPV attack drone use in June, and Garpiya-A1 one way attack drones were reportedly used in 2025. A single sighting of an Orion armed drone is disputed. In September an investigation said its commanders may authorise Malian strikes with Turkish drones. It has no ballistic or cruise missiles.
What losses has the Africa Corps suffered in 2026?
In March a Malian and Russian convoy was ambushed near Nampala; local sources report about 10 dead, at least three of them Russian, which Russia has not confirmed.
On 25 April a joint offensive by the Tuareg FLA and JNIM hit Kidal, Gao, Sevare, Kati and Bamako and killed Mali's defence minister, Sadio Camara. Russia's defence ministry claims about 12,000 fighters attacked, and Africa Corps claims more than 2,500 militants killed. Neither figure is verified. Africa Corps confirmed its withdrawal from Kidal on 27 April, then left Aguelhok, Tessalit, Tessit, Ber and Lere under negotiated exits. Russia's foreign ministry acknowledged Russian casualties without giving numbers. Rebels and Russian Telegram channels that back the war claim a Mi-35 and its crew were lost near Gao.
In July a convoy was ambushed near Tabrichat in the Gao region. The Russians withdrew, a Mi-24 was reportedly lost, and Ukraine claims 60 Malian soldiers were killed and 30 captured. One report counts five Russians among the dead when JNIM attacked the Dioura camp in September. No reliable Africa Corps death toll exists for 2026; every figure is a rebel, Malian or Ukrainian claim. In early October the Malian army retook Kidal without a fight, with Africa Corps support, after the FLA left.
How does the Africa Corps fight now?
In May and June it pulled back from the north toward Bamako, Kati and central Mali, and it now leans on helicopters and drones while escorting fuel convoys through the JNIM blockade. Malian units were left without support at Kidal and at Tabrichat. Ukraine claims the force is not prepared for a long fight against insurgents.
In August a rights group reported that Africa Corps summarily killed nine civilians, four of them children, in central Mali in early July, one of several killings attributed to it this year.
Key figures
| Fighters | 4,600–8,000 | C |
| Ballistic missiles | 0 | B |
| Cruise and anti-ship missiles | 0 | B |
A confirmed B strong estimate C estimated range
Main weapons
| BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle | — | C |
| BTR-82A armoured personnel carrier | — | C |
| Tigr armoured vehicle with Arbalet remote weapon station | — | C |
| Tanks, armoured vehicles, trucks and boats shipped to Bamako (at least three large shipments, Jan-May 2025) | — | C |
| Mi-24 / Mi-35 attack helicopters | — | B |
| FPV attack drones | — | B |
| Garpiya-A1 one-way attack drone | — | C |
| Orion (Inokhodets) MALE drone | — | C |
Assessment
| Firepower | 3/5 | |
| Cohesion and command | 4/5 | |
| Outside support | 5/5 | |
| Combat experience | 4/5 | |
| Professionalism | 4/5 |
Backers. Russia
Ground. It holds no territory of its own. An estimated 2,000 to 2,500 personnel in Mali are based around Bamako, Kati and central Mali after leaving the north in April 2026, with smaller contingents in the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Niger, Libya and Equatorial Guinea.
Professional or irregular. Run by Russia's Defence Ministry, it is a centrally commanded force of contract soldiers, former Wagner fighters and a growing number of local African recruits, well equipped by Sahel standards. Since April 2026 it has avoided ground combat, relied on aircraft and drones, and left Malian units without support at Kidal and Tabrichat.
What changed in 2026
Questions readers ask
Is the Africa Corps the same as Wagner?
No. Africa Corps is run by the Russian Defence Ministry, while Wagner was a private company. Africa Corps took over Wagner's Mali mission in June 2025, and many of its personnel are former Wagner fighters.
How many Russian troops are in Mali?
About 2,000 to 2,500, concentrated around Bamako, Kati and central Mali since the withdrawal from the north in April 2026. Russia does not publish a figure.
Who pays for the Africa Corps?
The host governments, from their national budgets, plus access to mining concessions. Mali reportedly pays about $10 million a month and has spent nearly $1 billion on Wagner and Africa Corps since late 2021.
How many Africa Corps soldiers have died in Mali?
Nobody knows. Russia acknowledged casualties after the April 2026 offensive without giving numbers, and every published toll is a rebel, Malian or Ukrainian claim.
Did the Africa Corps leave northern Mali?
Yes. After the 25 April 2026 offensive it withdrew from Kidal, Aguelhok, Tessalit, Tessit, Ber and Lere. The Malian army retook Kidal with its support in early October after the FLA withdrew.
Is the Africa Corps stronger than JNIM?
On the index, yes, well ahead, because Russian helicopters, armour and state backing give it firepower JNIM lacks. On the ground in 2026, JNIM and the FLA still forced it out of northern Mali.