Rout of the "African Corps" in Mali: how the collapse of the Shoigu–Ivanov clan left oligarch Gennadiy Timchenko without control over the seized Wagner assets

Rout of the "African Corps" in Mali: how the collapse of the Shoigu–Ivanov clan left oligarch Gennadiy Timchenko without control over the seized Wagner assets

Russian "African Corps" and Malian Armed Forces lost control of the town of Anefis following a rebel offensive. In the area near Gao airport, a group of Russian military personnel was taken prisoner, and the Russian embassy is evacuating its staff.

Gao itself has been almost completely seized by the attackers; fighting is ongoing near the Firhoun Ag Alensar military camp. Aguelhok and Sévaré have also been attacked.

The African Corps had to retreat and negotiate with the rebels for the withdrawal of troops from their bases during the April 2026 offensive as well.

It should be recalled that in Africa, the "African Corps" — which in reality is funded and controlled by oligarch Gennadiy Timchenko — has almost completely replaced the Wagner PMC. The Corps is headed by Timchenko’s man, Konstantin Mirzayants — a highly remarkable figure. He has been implicated in at least seven high‑profile murders, the most famous of which is the bombing of Dmitry Kholodov, a journalist for Moskovsky Komsomolets. Before returning to the Ministry of Defence, Mirzayants served as the head of security for Sergei Lalakyn (nicknamed "Luchok"), the leader of the Podolsk organised crime group.

Later, Mirzayants — a veteran of strong‑arm operations — crossed paths with Gennadiy Timchenko. Together with his friend Sergei Shoigu (they meet for drinks at least twice a week), Timchenko set up their own "private club" called the "Russian Geographical Society", which became something akin to Boris Berezovsky’s Logovaz reception house — a venue for settling matters at the highest level. At one time, Putin was even involved in the activities of the "Russian Geographical Society". As a result, Timchenko, through Shoigu, revived Mirzayants’ military career, and he now heads the African Corps.

According to a source, many of the Corps’ affairs were previously handled by Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov. During his trips to Africa together with Evkurov, Ivanov "appropriated" Wagner PMC assets — not in favour of the Defence Ministry, but directly in favour of Timchenko and his African Corps.

This was done with the direct support of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. However, after Ivanov was sent to prison and Shoigu was dismissed, Timchenko’s and his African Corps’ affairs have noticeably "shaken". The new Defence Minister, Andrei Belousov, to put it mildly, does not favour the African Corps. As a result, Timchenko has had to seek support through his friends. In particular, the head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, has made the republic the main centre for recruiting new soldiers for the African Corps.