The African Corps Takes Over: The New Face of Russian Presence in Mali
Mercenaries affiliated with Wagner Group officially depart Mali, yet their presence persists unofficially.
The African Corps, a Russian paramilitary group with ties to the Kremlin, has stepped into the shoes of the infamous Wagner Group in Mali. This shift comes after Wagner's supposed withdrawal, claiming their mission in the West African nation to be "accomplished" [1][2][3]. The Wagner Group had been operating in Mali since late 2021, with estimates of between 1,000 to 2,000 troops fighting jihadists and insurgents alongside the Malian military [5].
Interestingly, a substantial proportion of the Africa Corps' personnel are former Wagner fighters, making up approximately 70-80% of the total force [5]. This restructure is part of Moscow's strategy to maintain their grip onMalil, particularly following the demise of Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner's leader, in August 2023 [4][5].
Kremlin's Continued Influence
The Africa Corps, much like the Wagner Group, operates under the Russian Ministry of Defense and is closely linked to the Kremlin [5]. Russia is still firmly in charge of operations in Mali, with the Africa Corps acting as a means to ensure continuity in its deployments [3][5]. This setup allows Russia to keep a stronghold in the Sahel region while centralizing its military strategy and operations.
While Wagner may have officially bid farewell to Mali, the Kremlin continues to wield power in the region through the African Corps. The presence of these paramilitary forces raises concerns about human rights violations, as evidenced by the controversies surrounding the Wagner Group's methods in Mali [1][5].
The Path Ahead
Given the persistent security challenges in Mali, the Africa Corps is expected to continue supporting the Malian military and furthering Russian interests in the region [5]. However, the success of this partnership hinges on adopting a comprehensive political strategy beyond military operations to address the root causes of insecurity in the region [5]. With the African Corps now in charge, only time will tell how the situation in Mali unfolds.
[1] ntv.de, als/AFP[2] The New York Times[3] The Guardian[4] BBC News[5] The Washington Post
In the new arrangement, the African Corps, an entity closely connected to the Kremlin and essentially a rebranded Wagner Group, continues to pursue Russia's military objectives in Mali, maintaining the nation's influence in the Sahel region despite the ostensible departure of Wagner forces. This transition, however, necessitates a reassessment of employment policies to minimize potential human rights violations, as was evident during Wagner's operation in Mali, and to implement a comprehensive political strategy to address the underlying causes of the region's insecurity.
