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Africa Corps (Russia)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Afrika Korps.
Africa Corps
Африканский корпус
Sleeve patch of the corps
Founded2023–present
Allegiance Russia
TypeState-controlled military company
SizeAs of 2025 See[1]
  • Mali ~1000
  • Central African Republic ~1,500–2,000 (2023–2024 est.)
  • Libya ~800-1200 / ~800-1800[2]
  • Niger ~100[3] (April 2024 est.)
  • Burkina Faso ~100[4] / ~300 (2024 est.)
  • Equatorial Guinea ~200[5][6]
Part of Ministry of Defence
Engagements
Websitehttps://africancorpus.ru/
Commanders
Current
commander		Yunus-Bek Yevkurov
Notable
commanders		Andrei Averyanov [ru]
Insignia
Emblems

The Africa Corps (Russian: Африканский корпус, romanized: Afrikanskiy korpus) is a Russian expeditionary paramilitary group controlled and managed by the Russian government, to support Russian political influence and Russia-aligned governments in Africa. The Corps largely took over the operations of the Wagner Group in Africa, by subsuming and rebranding its structures.[7][8][9]

History

[edit]

The Africa Corps was established by the Russian Ministry of Defence, soon after the death and possible decapitation of Wagner's leadership by Russian authorities in 2023,[10][11] when a plane with its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, crashed. In doing so, the MoD made way for a full government takeover of the PMC scene in Russia, after the prior rivalry between the Russian MoD and Wagner.[12][13]

The formation cooperates with other government-controlled structures, like the "Bears Brigade" in Africa.[14] Konstantin Mirzayants, a purported leader of Redut, is reportedly closely involved in the MoD's operations in Africa and the creation of the Africa Corps.[15]

The UK Defence Ministry claimed that Africa Corps was also deployed in the 2024 Kharkiv offensive during the Russo-Ukrainian war.[16]

Organization

[edit]

The Corps' creation is part of a broader Russian strategy to increase its influence in Africa, where it competes with the United States as part of a broader geopolitical rivalry. The Africa Corps operates through a mix of mercenaries and volunteers, and estimates of its size vary.[17][18]

The Africa Corps has a smaller and more integrated role compared to Wagner, focusing on providing military support, training, and urban counterterrorism cooperation with local Russia-aligned governments in countries like Libya, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and the Central African Republic. The Russian government aims to use this entity to project influence, filling the security vacuum left by the withdrawal of Western powers, especially France, from the Sahel region. Russia also seeks to gain control over strategic resources like uranium, particularly in Niger, as well as leverage migration routes for geopolitical purposes.[19][20][21][22]

Sanctions

[edit]

In November 2024, the United Kingdom sanctioned the Africa Corps along with the Espanola formation and 81st Special Forces Brigade. According to foreign secretary David Lammy, the goal is to counter illegal Russian activities, hinder the destabilisation of African countries and to interrupt supply for the Russian war effort in Ukraine.[23]

Activities

[edit]

Main areas

[edit]

By country

[edit]

Mali

[edit]

In December 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defence deployed 1000 soldiers from the Africa Corps to Mali, while 1500 from the Wagner Group commanded by Ruslan Sergeevich Zlobin were still there.[28] The Wagnerians were deployed mainly in the north of the country, while the Africa Corps was concentrated in Bamako and the centre.[28]

On 6 June 2025, the government-controlled Wagner Group announced leaving Mali, with the Africa Corps continuing Russian operations to back the Malian military junta.[29] The Africa Corps then became the only Russian force present in the country. Several Wagner leaders, however, moved over to the Africa Corps with some of their men, including Andrei Ivanov, known as "Kep", Ruslan Zaprudsky, known as "Rusich" and Alexander Kuznetsov, known as "Ratibor".[30] According to US officials, around 2000 soldiers of both paramilitary groups were located in Mali.[29]

According to some Malian refugees, the Africa Corps has committed atrocities such as burning down of villages, gang rape and sexual slavery, and other abuses such as beheadings and abductions.[31] In early December 2025, a 14-year-old girl claimed to be raped by Africa Corps fighters who burst into her family's tent in Mali.[32]

On 21 April 2026, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that the corps rescued two employees of a Russian geological exploration company who were abducted by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin in Niger two years earlier.[33] Four days later, on 25 April, a helicopter belonging to the corps was shot down by the Azawad Liberation Front with both the crew and mobile fire group being transported by it killed during the 2026 Mali attacks.[34]

On 28 April, the Russian Ministry of Defence released footage of airstrikes carried out by Russian personnel, adding that at least 305 militants had been eliminated in recent strikes.[35]

Burkina Faso

[edit]

On 24 January 2024, military personnel of Russia's Africa Corps, which were intended to replace Wagner, arrived in Burkina Faso to provide security, including for interim president Ibrahim Traoré. It was reportedly planned that the 100 personnel would be expanded to 300.[36] It was revealed that a military base for the Africa Corps was established in Loumbila, north-east of Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou.[37]

Central African Republic

[edit]

In early 2025, Russia demanded that the Central African Republic (CAR) should switch from remaining Wagner forces to the African Corps.[38] By September of 2025, Russia announced that Wagner would be replaced by Africa Corps in CAR.[39]

Madagascar

[edit]

The Russian delegation headed by the Africa Corps, met in December 2025 with Madagascar’s interim president, Michael Randrianirina. During the meeting, the delegation and Randrianrina negotiated about personal protection for the president.[40] In January 2026, Russia sent military equipment and personell to train the Madagascar Armed Forces.[41]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Russia’s Africa Corps: Wagner’s Successor in Africa (2022–2025) (Report). Robert Lansing Institute. 30 September 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  2. ^ Faulkner, Christopher; Plichta, Marcel; Parens, Raphael (December 2024). "Africa Corps: Has Russia Hit a Ceiling in Africa?". CTC SENTINEL. 17 (11). Combating Terrorism Center: 23–30. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  3. ^ Faulkner, Christopher; Plichta, Marcel; Parens, Raphael (December 2024). "Africa Corps: Has Russia Hit a Ceiling in Africa?". CTC SENTINEL. 17 (11). Combating Terrorism Center: 23–30. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  4. ^ Faulkner, Christopher; Plichta, Marcel; Parens, Raphael (December 2024). "Africa Corps: Has Russia Hit a Ceiling in Africa?". CTC SENTINEL. 17 (11). Combating Terrorism Center: 23–30. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  5. ^ Faulkner, Christopher; Plichta, Marcel; Parens, Raphael (December 2024). "Africa Corps: Has Russia Hit a Ceiling in Africa?". CTC SENTINEL. 17 (11). Combating Terrorism Center: 23–30. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  6. ^ Russia’s Expanding Security Footprint in Equatorial Guinea (Report). Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Central African Republic: African Security Analysis. 1 March 2026. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  7. ^ Minde, Nicodemus (7 March 2024). "Russia's Africa Corps – more than old wine in a new bottle". Institute for Security Studies Africa. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  8. ^ Bryjka, Filip; Czerep, Jędrzej (23 May 2024). "Africa Corps – a New Iteration of Russia's Old Military Presence in Africa" (PDF). Polish Institute of International Affairs. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  9. ^ Naranjo, José (2023-12-23). "Russia expands into the Sahel with its new brand: Africa Corps". EL PAÍS. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  10. ^ "Passenger plane crashes in Russia, Wagner chief Prigozhin possibly on board". Novaya Gazeta. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  11. ^ "What now for Wagner after Prigozhin's death?". BBC. 25 August 2023. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  12. ^ Peltier, Elian (25 June 2024). "Year After Failed Mutiny, Russia Tightens Grip on Wagner Units in Africa". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  13. ^ Bobin, Frédéric; Le Cam, Morgane (2023-12-17). "'Africa Corps': Russia's West African presence rebranded". Le Monde. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  14. ^ Eydoux, Thomas; Roger, Benjamin (2024-07-14). "The Bear Brigade, the Kremlin's new paramilitary outfit in Africa". Le Monde. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  15. ^ Dalton, Ben; Rondeaux, Candace; Weidt, Merle (22 February 2024). "Targeting the Wagner Group: How the U.S. Can Strengthen Sanctions Against Russia". New America.
  16. ^ Denisova, Kateryna (2024-05-24). "UK Defense Ministry: Russia deploys its Africa Corps for Kharkiv Oblast offensive". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  17. ^ Karr, Liam (12 April 2024). "Africa File Special Edition: Russia's Africa Corps Arrives in Niger. What's Next?". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 2025-05-04. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  18. ^ Zenn, Jacob (9 July 2024). "Brief: Russia's Africa Corps Appears to Be Recruiting African Militants". The Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  19. ^ Zenn, Jacob (2024-09-11). "Revisiting Russian "Africa Corps'" Organizational Structure – FMSOFMSO". Foreign Military Studies Office. Archived from the original on 2025-06-04. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  20. ^ "Africa Corps: Russia's new force in Africa". African Digital Democracy Observatory. 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  21. ^ Schwikowski, Martina; Tiassou, Kossivi Tiassou; Koena, Jean Fernand (9 February 2024). "After Wagner, Russia makes new military plans in Africa". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  22. ^ Banchereau, Mark; Donati, Jessica (2024-06-06). "What to know about Russia's growing footprint in Africa". AP News. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  23. ^ "Verbindungen zum Kreml: Großbritannien sanktioniert russische Söldnergruppen in Afrika". Der Spiegel (in German). 7 November 2024.
  24. ^ "Russian troops deploy to Burkina Faso". Reuters. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  25. ^ Ewokor, Chris; Armstrong, Kathryn (2024-04-12). "Russian troops arrive in Niger as military agreement begins". BBC. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  26. ^ "Russian defense systems, trainers arrive in Niger". Voice of America. 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  27. ^ Karr, Liam (4 December 2024). "Africa File Special Edition: Syria's Potential Impact on Russia's Africa and Mediterranean Ambitions". Critical Threats.
  28. ^ a b Roger, Benjamin (6 March 2025). "Au Mali, la Russie accélère le tempo du remplacement de Wagner". Le Monde (in French).
  29. ^ a b Fatimah, Midhat (7 June 2025). "Russia's Wagner Group leaves Mali, Africa Corps will stay". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  30. ^ Roger, Benjamin (6 June 2025). "Au Mali, les Russes de Wagner quittent le pays, remplacés par ceux d'Africa Corps". Le Monde (in French).
  31. ^ Thomas Naadi (25 November 2025). "Russian mercenaries accused of cold-blooded killings in Mali - BBC speaks to eyewitnesses". BBC. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  32. ^ MONIKA PRONCZUK and CAITLIN KELLY (14 December 2025). "Girls and women fleeing Mali describe sexual violence by Russian forces". AP. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  33. ^ "Russia says Africa Corps has freed Russian and Ukrainian nationals abducted in West Africa". Reuters. 2026-04-21. Retrieved 2026-04-24.
  34. ^ "Russian Helicopter Shot Down in Mali; Crew and Troops Killed". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  35. ^ "Coup attempt thwarted in Mali: Russian Defense Ministry's statements". TASS News. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
  36. ^ Hoije, Katarina (25 January 2024). "Russian Troops Begin Burkina Faso Deployment to Bolster Security". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  37. ^ "Au Burkina Faso, la première base militaire russe d'Africa Corps". Le Monde.fr (in French). 6 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  38. ^ "Russia Pushes CAR to Choose Africa Corps Over Wagner Mercenaries". Africa Defense Forum. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  39. ^ "Moscow's New Puppet in Africa: The Transition from the Wagner Group to Africa Corps". The Chicago Journal of Foreign Policy. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  40. ^ Naranjo, José (25 January 2026). "Russian Africa Corps mercenaries incorporate Madagascar into their expansion across the continent". EL PAÍS English. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  41. ^ "Madagascar military receives equipment and training from Russia | Africanews". Africanews. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
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