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Africa Corps (Russia)

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Africa Corps
Африканский корпус
Dates of operation2023-present
SizeSeveral thousand
Part ofRussian Ministry of Defence
Battles and wars

The Africa Corps, also called Russian Expeditionary Corps (REK), is a Russian mercenary 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 PMC in Africa, by subsuming and rebranding its structures.[1][2][3]

History

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The Expeditionary 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,[4][5] when a plane with its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, crashed. In the following, the MoD made way for a fully government-controlled PMC scene in Russia, after the prior rivalry between the Russian MoD and Wagner.[6][7]

The formation cooperates with other government-controlled structures, like the 1st Expeditionary Volunteer Assault Corps' (Redut) "Bears Brigade" in Africa.[8] 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.[9]

The Africa Corps was also deployed to fight for Russia in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in the 2024 Kharkiv offensive.[10]

On 3 December 2024, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency (HUR) claimed that Russia plans to deploy the Africa Corps to help Syrian government forces against offensives by Syrian rebels, which captured Aleppo and many other important cities and settlements,[11] threatening Russian influence in Syria.[12] However, the Russian government refrained from bolstering Assad, leading to the fall of his regime - instead prioritising to concentrate forces in Ukraine.[13]

Organization

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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.[14][15]

The Africa Corps has a smaller and more integrated role compared to Wagner, focusing on providing military support, training, and 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.[16][17][18][19]

Sanctions

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In November 2024, the United Kingdom sanctioned the Africa Corps along the Espanola Battalion and Bears 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.[20]

Activities

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Main areas

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By country

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Burkina Faso

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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 Traoré. It was reportedly planned that the 100 personnel would be expanded to 300.[25] It was revealed that a military base for the Africa Corps was established in Loumbila.[26]

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Naranjo, José (2023-12-23). "Russia expands into the Sahel with its new brand: Africa Corps". EL PAÍS. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  4. ^ "Passenger plane crashes in Russia, Wagner chief Prigozhin possibly on board". Novaya Gazeta. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  5. ^ "What now for Wagner after Prigozhin's death?". BBC. 25 August 2023. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Bobin, Frédéric; Le Cam, Morgane (2023-12-17). "'Africa Corps': Russia's West African presence rebranded". Le Monde. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  8. ^ Eydoux, Thomas; Roger, Benjamin (2024-07-14). "The Bear Brigade, the Kremlin's new paramilitary outfit in Africa". Le Monde. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  9. ^ Dalton, Ben; Rondeaux, Candace; Weidt, Merle (22 February 2024). "Targeting the Wagner Group: How the U.S. Can Strengthen Sanctions Against Russia". New America.
  10. ^ Denisova, Kateryna (2024-05-24). "UK Defense Ministry: Russia deploys its Africa Corps for Kharkiv Oblast offensive". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  11. ^ "Russia to send mercenaries to Syria to reinforce its troops, Ukrainian intelligence claims". Kyiv Independent. 3 December 2024.
  12. ^ "Russia is evacuating its military fleet from Syria following an offensive by rebels". The Odessa Journal. 3 December 2024.
  13. ^ "'A personal defeat for Putin' What the failure to protect Assad could mean for Russia's future". Meduza. Archived from the original on 11 December 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  14. ^ 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. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  15. ^ Zenn, Jacob (9 July 2024). "Brief: Russia's Africa Corps Appears to Be Recruiting African Militants". The Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  16. ^ Zenn, Jacob (2024-09-11). "Revisiting Russian "Africa Corps'" Organizational Structure - FMSOFMSO". Foreign Military Studies Office. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  17. ^ "Africa Corps: Russia's new force in Africa". African Digital Democracy Observatory. 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  18. ^ Schwikowski, Martina; Tiassou, Kossivi Tiassou; Koena, Jean Fernand (9 February 2024). "After Wagner, Russia makes new military plans in Africa – DW – 02/09/2024". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  19. ^ Banchereau, Mark; Donati, Jessica (2024-06-06). "What to know about Russia's growing footprint in Africa". AP News. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  20. ^ "Verbindungen zum Kreml: Großbritannien sanktioniert russische Söldnergruppen in Afrika". Der Spiegel (in German). 7 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Russian troops deploy to Burkina Faso". Reuters. 25 January 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  22. ^ Ewokor, Chris; Armstrong, Kathryn (2024-04-12). "Russian troops arrive in Niger as military agreement begins". BBC. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  23. ^ "Russian defense systems, trainers arrive in Niger". Voice of America. 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  24. ^ Karr, Liam (4 December 2024). "Africa File Special Edition: Syria's Potential Impact on Russia's Africa and Mediterranean Ambitions". Critical Threats.
  25. ^ Hoije, Katarina (25 January 2024). "Russian Troops Begin Burkina Faso Deployment to Bolster Security". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Au Burkina Faso, la première base militaire russe d'Africa Corps". Le Monde.fr (in French). 6 March 2024. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
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