Russia transfers drone war to Africa.. "Shahed-136" appears for the first time in Mali

The conflict in northern Mali witnessed a notable military development with the first recorded use of "Shahed-136" suicide drones, or the Russian version "Geran-2," in operations carried out by the Malian armed forces with support from the Russian "Africa Corps," in a step that gives Bamako a new capability to carry out long-range strikes against armed groups.

Joint investigations by "Jeune Afrique" magazine and "Bellingcat" website, based on video clips and visual analysis of field evidence, revealed the execution of at least two attacks using this type of drone during July 2026, one in the Inafarak area north of Kidal, and the other in the village of Talhandak near the Algerian border.

The first attack occurred on July 12, where the drone targeted a commercial facility in the village of Inafarak, causing significant damage to buildings and fuel barrels, while images showed remains of an engine believed to be of the "MD-550" type, which is derived from the engine used in Iranian Shahed-136 drones and their Russian version "Geran-2".

Images showing the targeting by a Shahed-136 drone

As for the second attack, it occurred on July 17 in the town of Talhandak, when a drone targeted a truck carrying barrels believed to contain cooking oil, resulting in at least one civilian death and the complete destruction of the vehicle.

Bellingcat's analysis of the videos and geolocation matching confirmed that the strike was carried out by a suicide drone of the same category, and not as a result of it being shot down, as claimed by accounts loyal to the Wagner Group.

Iranian weapon in a Russian version

Experts suggest that the drones used belong to the Shahed-136 family, which was developed by the Iranian aircraft manufacturing company "HESA" since 2021, before Russia began producing its local version "Geran-2" inside the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, under a technology transfer agreement with Iran.

Satellite images

These drones are characterized by their ability to fly distances of up to about two thousand kilometers, and carry a warhead weighing between 40 and 90 kilograms, making them a low-cost means of carrying out long-range strikes against fixed targets, and Russia has used them extensively during the war in Ukraine.

New capabilities for the Malian army

The introduction of these drones grants the Malian army and its Russian allies an offensive capability that was not previously available, as they can be launched from simple platforms without the need for airfields, with the ability to carry out deep strikes inside areas where armed groups are deployed.

Although the Shahed-136 is less accurate than armed drones such as the Turkish "Bayraktar TB2" or "Akıncı," its low cost and ease of operation allow it to be used in larger numbers, especially against fixed positions such as camps, weapons depots, and assembly centers.

Experts confirm that these drones will not fundamentally change the balance of power, but they will add a new dimension to the war in Mali by providing a long-range, low-cost offensive capability, thereby increasing pressure on armed groups and enhancing the options of Malian forces in military operations in the north of the country.