How Togo has become a new entry point for weapons sent by Russia to Mali
Summary
A Russian ship carrying military vehicles stopped at the Port of Lomé in Togo for the first time on its way to Mali. This new route is part of Russia’s support for the Malian government and replaces an earlier path through Guinea.Key Facts
- The Russian cargo ship Mikhail Britnev, under US sanctions, delivered military vehicles at the Port of Lomé in Togo on July 9, 2026.
- The ship is on the US sanctions list because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- The cargo is intended for Mali’s armed forces and their allies, including a Russian-controlled paramilitary group called the Africa Corps.
- The Mikhail Britnev was loaded with armored vehicles at the Baltiysk Naval Base in Russia’s Kaliningrad region.
- The ship traveled through the English Channel, escorted by a Russian navy ship and monitored by a British navy vessel.
- The ship turned off its tracking system temporarily before arriving at Togo.
- Previously, Russian military deliveries to Mali passed through Guinea and then traveled 995 kilometers to Mali’s capital.
- The new route through eastern Mali is about 1,842 kilometers, nearly twice as long as the old path.
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