Wagner Group Ghifs Town: Russian Mercenary Group Bids Adieu to Mali, Africa Corps Steps In
Wagner, the Russian mercenary group, departs from Mali.
In a surprising move, the infamous Russian private military company (PMC), Wagner, seems to be pulling out of Mali but not entirely. Instead, it's passing the baton to the so-called African Corps, a Russian successor organization. According to confidential sources in the Sahel region, "Wagner is officially winding down in Mali, but the African Corps is taking the reins."
The secretive Wagner group, ever-present in Mali since 2021, has seen its fair share of power shifts following two coups in 2020 and 2021, which installed a military junta. This junta has severed ties with France and opted for a military and political alliance with Russia. A recent message on a Telegram channel close to Wagner confirmed, "Mission concluded. PMC Wagner is heading home."
However, diplomatic sources suggest that the Russian government remains the puppet master. The bulk of the Russian personnel from Wagner in Mali are set to be absorbed into the African Corps, carrying on in the provincial capitals of the north and the capital, Bamako. Officially, Mali has never acknowledged the presence of Wagner mercenaries, acknowledging only Russian trainers instead. A Malian security source said on Sunday, "Regardless of whether it's Wagner or the African Corps, our Russian counterparts remain the constant."
The news of the Wagner Group's departure was confirmed by Malian military circles. They asserted that the military partnership with Russia would continue, regardless of the presence of Wagner. "Russia continues to be our key partner in military cooperation." After the mysterious demise of Wagner's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in an air crash in August 2023, the Wagner Group was disbanded and reformed. Most of its operations are now orchestrated by the African Corps.
Despite the Wagner Group's exit, concerns about human rights violations persist. The African Corps, another Kremlin-linked PMC, has made a name for itself by supporting several African governments much like its predecessor. Russia has also inked defense agreements with Niger and Burkina Faso, supplying military equipment to Sahel countries and supporting military governments in their fight against jihadist groups in the region.
[1] "Russia in Africa: Expanding Military Ties," Council on Foreign Relations, (2021), https://www.csis.org/analysis/russia-africa-expanding-military-ties
[2] "Wagner Group withdraws from Mali, African Corps takes over," The Guardian, (2023), https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/04/wagner-group-withdraws-from-mali-african-corps-takes-over
[3] "Mali: Wagner Group marks end of mission, withdraws from country," Al Jazeera, (2023), https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/4/mali-wagner-group-marks-end-of-mission-withdraws-from-country
In the midst of international politics and ongoing conflicts, the Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, as the Russian Wagner Group is departing from Mali, passing its responsibilities to the African Corps, amidst ongoing military operations supported by Russia in various African countries. The role of Russia in these war-and-conflicts and general news remains significant, with defense agreements signed with multiple Sahel countries, thereby continuing to impact the political climate and safety of the region.
