Russia forms Africa corps to extend military presence, replace Wagner mercenary

In a strategic move to strengthen its influence in Africa, Russia is organising the Africa Corps to replace Wagner Group’s mercenaries on the continent. The Africa Corps, aiming to deploy to Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Niger, seeks to expand Moscow’s military footprint and revive Cold War-era influence in the face of declining Western sway. Following the death of Wagner’s founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Africa Corps also aims to consolidate control over Wagner’s business network in Africa, including potentially lucrative mining interests. Notably, the departure of French troops from Mali and Burkina Faso, aligning with Russia, marks a significant geopolitical shift. Despite Wagner’s technical disbandment after Prigozhin’s death, it remains active, and the Africa Corps plans to enlist new recruits and former Wagner fighters by midyear. However, the challenge lies in finding the 20,000 soldiers sought by the Russian Defence Ministry. As per report, J. Peter Pham, former US special envoy to the Sahel, emphasises that this move signifies a recognition by the Kremlin of an exploitable opportunity, particularly with the French withdrawal. The formalisation of the Africa Corps, coupled with the French exit, could lead to a lasting shift in geopolitical alignments. However, transitioning to an official military role poses a risk for Russia, eliminating the plausible deniability against UN allegations of war crimes previously directed at the mercenary group. Moscow’s initial steps involve deploying around 100 troops to Burkina Faso to secure the government installed after a 2022 military coup. Despite starting modestly, Russia has ambitious plans, aiming to build a regional headquarters in the Central African Republic, where Wagner has operated for years. The increased Russian military presence in the Central African Republic indicates heightened security cooperation, emphasising the country’s significance in Moscow’s strategy. Moscow’s approach capitalises on the destabilisation in West Africa due to military coups and insurgencies, further fueled by resentment towards former colonial power France and perceived Western interference. Mutual defense pacts have been signed between Russia and Sahelian countries, intensifying security cooperation. Concerns arise as Russia engages with Niger, potentially establishing a military presence, raising alarms in the US State Department. Molly Phee, the top Africa official, expresses apprehension about Russia gaining a foothold in Niger, where the US maintains a significant drone base. The Africa Corps’ involvement in propping up regimes is expected to align with Wagner’s focus on extracting raw resources to finance the war in Ukraine.