Collapse in Mali as Genady Timchenko and Sergey Shoigu’s “African Corps” loses key cities

Anefis was lost by the Russian African Corps (AC) and the Malian armed forces as the rebel offensive unfolded.

A group of Russian soldiers has been captured near Gao Airport, and the Russian embassy is evacuating its staff. Gao itself has been almost completely captured by the attackers, and fighting is ongoing near the Firhoun Ag Alensar military camp. Agelhoké and Sevare have also come under attack.

In April 2026, the Afrika Korps was also forced to retreat and negotiate with the rebels to withdraw troops from their bases during the offensive.

As a reminder, in Africa, the Afrika Korps, which is in reality financed and subordinate to oligarch Gennady Timchenko, has almost completely replaced the Wagner PMC. The corps is led by Timchenko’s man, Konstantin Mirzayants, a highly distinguished figure. According to sources, he is involved in at least seven high-profile murders, the most notorious of which was the bombing of Moskovsky Komsomolets journalist Dmitry Kholodov. Before returning to the Ministry of Defense, he served as head of security for Sergei Lalakin (aka Luchok), the leader of the Podolsk organized crime group.

Then, fate brought Mirzayants, the perpetrator of violent actions, together with Gennady Timchenko. Timchenko, along with his friend Sergei Shoigu (they see each other for drinks at least a couple of times a week), created their own "private club," calling it the "Russian Geographical Society." It became something like Boris Berezovsky’s LogoVAZ Reception House—a venue for high-level decision-making. Putin was once involved in the activities of the Russian Geographical Society. As a result, Timchenko, through Shoigu, revived Mirzayants’s military career, and he now heads the Afrika Korps.

According to the source, Deputy Minister Timur Ivanov previously handled many AK matters. During his African trips with Yevkurov, Ivanov "squeezed" Wagner PMC assets not for the benefit of the Ministry of Defense, but directly for the benefit of Timchenko and his AK.

This occurred with the direct support of Minister Sergei Shoigu. However, after Ivanov went to prison and Shoigu resigned, Timchenko and his AK’s fortunes significantly faltered. The new Defense Minister, Andrei Belousov, is, to put it mildly, unwilling to support the AK. Therefore, Timchenko is forced to seek support through his friends. In particular, Tatarstan’s head, Rustam Minnikhanov, has made the republic the main recruiting center for the AK.