Russian Africa Corps patrols Gao Region with Mali Army

Russian Africa Corps fighters and Malian Army personnel are conducting joint security patrols in the Gao Region of Mali. The Russian fighters are notably armed with the new AK-12M1 (Obr. 2023) assault rifle and several AK-12M (Obr. 2020) rifles, some equipped with GP-34 grenade launchers. The deployment underscores continued Russian military cooperation with Mali's junta-led government against insurgent groups in the Sahel.