The Russian government is forming a new mercenary group, the Africa Corps, aiming to fill the void left by the disbandment of the Wagner Group. This initiative comes in the wake of the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, along with other top leaders in a plane crash in August 2023. The Africa Corps is expected to recruit both new personnel and veterans from the Wagner Group, with the transition planned to be complete by mid-year.
The Africa Corps is set to recruit at least 20,000 soldiers for deployment in at least five African nations, including Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Niger. The new group’s formation is seen as a strategic move to bolster Russia’s military presence in Africa and to take advantage of existing relationships in the Sahel region. According to the group’s Telegram channel, The corps has already commenced operations, with an initial deployment of approximately 100 troops in Burkina Faso. Their primary objectives include providing security to the nation’s Interim President, Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, and engaging in counter-terrorism activities.
What sets the Africa Corps apart is its direct affiliation with the Russian Ministry of Defense, as opposed to the Wagner Group’s status as a private entity. This change indicates a more overt and formalized Russian military presence in Africa, reflecting a significant shift in Moscow’s approach to the continent.
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