Russia is expanding its military footprint in Africa’s volatile Sahel region as President Vladimir Putin replaces the Wagner Group with the state-controlled Africa Corps. Unlike Wagner, which operated as a semi-private mercenary force with ambiguous Kremlin ties, Africa Corps functions directly under Russia’s Defence Ministry and national intelligence. Its deployments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger mark a shift toward a formal, institutional force aimed at securing Moscow’s influence across West Africa. The Sahel, plagued by Islamist insurgencies and political instability, is becoming a key battleground for Russian power projection, especially as Western forces scale back their presence.
