FP: Prigozhin's Ghost Is Roaming The "African Corps"

• 3.09.2025, 16:10

Experts told about the Kremlin's weak point.

After the death of the leader of PMC "Wagner" Evgeny Prigozhin Russia is promoting a new project in Africa - "African Corps". Formally, it is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and offers services to train the military and participate in operations against insurgents. However, like Wagner, the structure actually provides protection to authoritarian regimes in exchange for Foreign Policy (translated by Charter97.org).

The Wagnerians have been operating in Mali for more than three years, but have failed to turn the tide against jihadists. On the contrary, the level of violence increased. After Wagner's departure, the African Corps took over, but there has been no fundamental change. In the Central African Republic, Moscow also demanded that the authorities withdraw Wagner's services and sign new contracts with the African Corps.

Africa is a rare place for the Kremlin to demonstrate influence and undermine Western positions at relatively low cost. Russia is seeking to gain a foothold in the Sahel countries, access to ports and minerals, and strengthen military cooperation with new allies. Moscow recently held its first official meeting with the Sahel Alliance defense ministers, signing a memorandum of cooperation.

The project has vulnerabilities, however. Unlike Wagner, the African Corps is directly linked to the Kremlin, so all failures and abuses hit Russia's reputation. At the same time, African countries increasingly perceive Moscow not as an ally, but as a predatory player.

For the United States, there is a risk of copying the Russian model of short-term deals with private military structures. Experts warn that a reliance on institutions and long-term reforms will do more good than competing with Russia on its terms.

The African Corps demonstrates that Russian influence is built not on strength but on opportunism - and this is the Kremlin's weakness.