The recent developments surrounding Russia’s Africa Corps raise questions about the country’s motives and objectives on the continent. Despite engaging in conflicts elsewhere, such as in Ukraine, Russia seems to prioritize its military presence and weapon exports in African nations like Mali, Burkina Faso, Libya, and the Central African Republic.
Putin’s new military strategy for Africa
For years, mercenaries from the Wagner Group fought unofficially in Africa on behalf of Russia. After the death of their leader Prigozhin, the Kremlin is building a new force that directly reports to the Ministry of Defense: the “Africa Corps”. Three months ago, the Wagner Group celebrated one of its biggest successes in Mali. Together with the Malian army, they liberated the city of Kidal in the north of the country. Kidal had not been controlled from the Malian capital, Bamako, since 2012, but by jihadist terrorist militias and later by rebel groups.
For a few hours, the flag of the paramilitary Wagner Group flew over the fortress of Kidal. A Russian Telegram channel congratulated them – a Telegram channel of the Africa Corps, as the French newspaper Le Monde found out.
Ironically, this Africa Corps is supposed to replace the Wagner Group. The name is inspired by the Africa Corps of the Third Reich, which fought in Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt between 1941 and 1943.
Africa Corps directly under the Ministry of Defense
The difference from the Wagner Group is that the Wagner Group was, on paper, a private security company led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. Following his failed uprising, he, along with the rest of the Wagner leadership, died in a plane crash on August 23. It was unclear for a long time what would happen to his mercenary group in Africa.
Unlike Wagner, the Africa Corps reports directly to the Russian Ministry of Defense. A significant difference, according to former KGB agent Sergei Shirnov in an interview with ARD’s Northwest Africa studio: “Because this unit is clearly dependent on the Russian state. The Russian state must be responsible for everything that this Africa Corps undertakes”, including negotiations before international courts.
Shirnov, who worked as a Russian agent in France and various Latin American countries, met Russia’s President Vladimir Putin during their training. In 2001, the current best-selling author defected to France after allegedly disclosing state secrets on the internet and facing criminal prosecution.
Twice the size of Wagner
According to Russian authorities, 20,000 people are said to work for the Africa Corps. The Wagner Group had a maximum of 10,000, most likely fewer members. Shirnov believes they will recruit mainly individuals trained in intelligence services. Former Wagner mercenaries were presented with job contracts.
Even though most probably signed, there is unrest within the organization, says Shirnov: “The more experienced Wagner mercenaries do not hold a favorable view of Putin. They have not forgotten the tragic end of their leadership under Prigozhin and how the Russian state dissolved Wagner. This could lead to tensions.”
First members arrived in Burkina Faso
The first members of the Africa Corps landed in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, at the end of January. Initially, 100 people were stationed there, but it is expected to increase to 300 soon. The organization stated via Telegram that they would protect the interim president Ibrahim Traoré and the population from terrorist attacks.
When asked if the Russians would engage in combat, Traoré replied in an interview: “No, no Russian is in combat on our soil. But if the situation requires, they will be there. I can promise you that.” In the Sahel zone, military coups recently took place in several countries. Traoré is one of them, but Mali and Niger also experienced coups.
Sergei Shirnov believes Putin has an easy game with figures like Traoré: “Putin pushes African countries into more tensions.” Because more conflict makes it easier for Putin to manipulate their dictators. “In some countries, it was not even the generals who carried out coups, but captains and lieutenants who have no idea how to lead a country.”
Weapons, gold, and diamonds
While soldiers from the former colonial power France and UN troops withdrew, Russia and other countries established a strong presence. Traoré stated that these countries are less hesitant to supply heavy weapons.
“There are many countries – Russia, China, Turkey, North Korea – that have no restrictions at all. Iran provides us with everything. They send us a bill, and if we can pay, we pay,” said Traoré. “But ironically, the nations that stationed soldiers here, our so-called friends, were different. There were even some that didn’t want to supply us with lethal weapons.”
But why is Putin allocating so many resources for an Africa Corps while simultaneously waging war in Ukraine, where Russia has already lost hundreds of thousands of people? Russia has a total trade turnover of only about 18 billion euros with all 54 countries on the continent combined. Russia mainly exports to Africa – especially weapons – as it hardly imports anything. What do states like Burkina Faso offer Russia besides markets for weapons? Traoré denies this notion, but neighboring countries like Ghana and even Western countries believe it is about natural resources such as gold mines and diamonds. Shirnov explains that Putin is convinced that there are still riches in Africa that can be plundered. “Russia can claim whatever it wants, but it behaves like a predator on the continent.”
In addition to Mali and Burkina Faso, the Africa Corps is also expected to operate in Libya, the Central African Republic, and – to a lesser extent – Niger. The question is whether Russia can prove that it can be more than just a weapons supplier and a fomenter of chaos. However, looking at the economic data and the current results so far, doubts arise.