Russia Has Established a 'Shadow Air Fleet' to Support Military Operations in the African Sahel A report by the Brussels-based portal Euractiv, citing data from the Washington-based NGO Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS), has revealed that Russia has developed a "shadow air fleet" to supply its military forces operating in the African Sahel region. The report, published on August 12, details the existence of an extensive network of military and private aircraft used to transport personnel, equipment, and supplies to conflict zones in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The findings were shared with Euractiv on August 22, highlighting the scale and complexity of Russia’s logistical operations in the region. According to the C4ADS analysis, the shadow air fleet has been actively used since January 2025, with at least 75 flights recorded by July 2026. These flights are facilitated by a combination of state-controlled entities, government agencies, and private transport companies. The report emphasizes that the network operates in a manner similar to Russia’s "shadow fleet" used for maritime oil exports, which has been a subject of international scrutiny. The system is described as a "comprehensive logistics system," enabling the efficient movement of military assets across vast distances while evading direct attribution to Russian state actors. The most active carrier within the network is the OJSC "224th Flight Squadron," a state-owned entity under the Russian Ministry of Defense. This squadron has been under U.S. sanctions since the time of the report’s publication, raising questions about the legal and geopolitical implications of its operations. Other key players include Sapsan Airlines and Liz Aviation, both of which are not subject to restrictions from the EU, the U.S., or the UK.#russia #mali #euractiv #center_for_advanced_defense_studies #burkina_faso
Mali’s Northern Conflict Enters Dangerous New Phase as Separatists and Al-Qaeda Affiliate Form Unprecedented Alliance The conflict in northern Mali has escalated into a perilous new stage as a separatist movement and an al-Qaeda-linked group have forged an unlikely alliance, reshaping the battlefield and deepening political divisions. The joint offensive launched by the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) on April 25, 2026, marked a dramatic shift in the war, which had previously pitted the Malian state against various armed groups. This unprecedented collaboration has stretched across key regions including Kidal, Anefis, Tilemsi, Gao, and Sevare, presenting the most significant challenge to the Malian army in years and to Russia’s Africa Corps, a Kremlin-backed force that replaced the Wagner Group in Mali. The partnership between the FLA, a nationalist separatist group seeking independence for Azawad, and JNIM, an al-Qaeda affiliate aiming to overthrow the Malian government, has transformed the conflict’s dynamics. While their political goals remain fundamentally opposed—FLA seeks Azawad’s independence, and JNIM envisions a theocratic governance model—their cooperation has created a formidable military force. This alliance has intensified the fighting, with simultaneous assaults, ambushes, drone strikes, and attacks on military convoys becoming common. Both sides claim battlefield gains, though the Malian government insists it is working to dismantle what it calls a “terrorist alliance.” The roots of this partnership trace back to the collapse of the 2015 Algiers Peace Agreement, which aimed to end years of conflict through decentralization and political representation but failed to deliver lasting stability.#azawad_liberation_front #jamaat_nusrat_al_islam_wal_muslimin #gao #mali #kidal
Mali Rebels Ambush Army Convoy, Killing or Capturing Scores of Soldiers Islamic militants and a separatist group launched an ambush on a Malian army convoy in the country’s northern region on Saturday, resulting in the deaths or capture of multiple soldiers, according to the rebels. The attack occurred in a remote area of the Gao region, a zone frequently targeted by armed groups seeking to expand their influence in the Sahel. The Malian army confirmed the incident, stating that armed groups ambushed the convoy of soldiers and their partners, prompting counterattacks. The attack marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict between security forces and militant factions vying for control over territory in the region. The military’s response included “precision strikes against enemy positions” in the area, as stated in a Sunday update. The army claimed to have neutralized several terrorists and freed the convoy from the ambush, allowing it to continue its route. Both the regional al-Qaida affiliate JNIM and the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, describing it as a joint operation. The groups emphasized the significant casualties and material losses suffered by the Malian army, including the destruction of armored vehicles and the capture of soldiers. The FLA spokesperson, Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, detailed the attack’s impact, stating that “many soldiers were killed, others captured alive. Army cars, including armored cars, were destroyed and others seized in good condition.” The convoy, which was traveling from the northern town of Anefis to Gao city, was ambushed in the Sahara desert. While the exact nature of the convoy remained unclear, fuel tankers were observed, suggesting it could have been a logistics convoy supporting military operations.#mali #jnim #fla #gao #sahel
