Russia has established a new maritime route to supply units of its Africa Corps operating in Mali, a move that could strengthen Moscow’s military presence in the region, according to the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung.

Mali’s landlocked position has long complicated the delivery of military equipment, weapons and other supplies. Russia has now developed an alternative logistics corridor to overcome that obstacle.

The newspaper reported that the Africa Corps had established cooperation with the coastal state of Togo amid continuing activity by Islamist groups. The new supply route now passes through Togolese territory.

According to NZZ, the operation is intended both to support Russian troops and their Malian allies and to reinforce Moscow’s standing in the region. A Russian military convoy that eventually reached Bamako reportedly travelled more than 10,000 kilometres.

The journey began at the Russian naval base in Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region. The convoy then travelled past Europe and along the coast of West Africa before reaching the Gulf of Guinea.

On April 25, Russian Africa Corps personnel repelled what was described as the largest attack by radical Islamists in Mali. The main fighting took place near the city of Kidal.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the operation prevented an attempted coup in the African country.