A new investigation indicates that Togo has become a key transit point for Russian military equipment destined for Mali, reflecting evolving security and geopolitical ties between Moscow and West Africa. Satellite imagery and shipping data traced the sanctioned Russian cargo vessel Mikhail Britnev from Kaliningrad to the Port of Lomé before its cargo traveled overland through Burkina Faso into Mali. Analysts believe the shipment included armored fighting vehicles, transport trucks, and other military hardware intended for the Malian Armed Forces and the Russian-backed Africa Corps. The route replaces an older logistics corridor through Guinea, likely because of operational and security considerations. The development highlights growing defense cooperation between Russia and Togo while underscoring Moscow’s continued efforts to expand its military influence in the Sahel despite Western sanctions and international scrutiny.
France24