Russia’s Large Helicopter Fleet in West Africa Plays Central Role Supporting Malian Advances Against Western-Backed Insurgents

The Malian Armed Force have regained control of the key city of Menakain the north of the country, after pushing Western-backed Islamist insurgent groups to withdraw. The insurgents seized the city as part of offensives launched on April 25, causing considerable losses among government forces, with coordinated attacks having included a successful assassination of Defence Minister General Sadio Camara in a suicide bombing attack on his residence. The insurgency has received considerable positive coverage across the Western world, in part due to Mali’s expulsion of European forces from its territory and its formation of close strategic ties to Russia. Russian forces have played a significant role in spearheading recent counteroffensives to retake ground from insurgents.

The Russian Defence Ministry has assigned the Africa Corps to support Malian government counterinsurgency efforts following the expulsion of French forces from the country in 2021. The Corps reportedly repelled insurgents’ attempts to seize military sites and key infrastructure, resulting in the deaths of more than 200 hostile personnel and the capture of large quantities of equipment. Malian Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga has pointed to the significant role of foreign state sponsors in strengthening the insurgency, following widespread allusions to a particularly central role played by French and Ukrainian forces. The Russian Defence Ministry later issued a statement alleging that the approximately 12,000 insurgents participating in offensives against the government had been trained by Ukrainian and European personnel. 

To support counterinsurgency operations in Mali, Russia has assembled one of its most capable combined aviation groupings with a fleet that includes attack helicopters, strike drones, heavy transport aircraft, and strike fighters operating out of Bamako International Airport. Africa Corps helicopters have played a key role in conducting supply runs to forward bases including Hombori in the Gao region, evacuating wounded Russian and Malian personnel from combat zones. The backbone of this contingent is formed of Mi-8AMTSh combat assault transport helicopters and four Mi-24P attack helicopters. A number of more scarce Mi-26 heavy lift helicopters, which are the largest in service anywhere in the world, have also contributed to operations, and are valued for their very high payload capacities. Alongside the Mi-26, the presence of Su-24M strike fighters in Mali has marked a significant escalation of the Russian presence. The logistics chain sustaining these operations is sustained by Russian Aerospace Forces Il-76 transports.