Russia has officially replaced the Wagner Group with a new state-controlled military force, Africa Corps, marking a significant shift in its strategy to expand influence across the Sahel region, according to a new report by the Timbuktu Institute.
Wagner forces, long accused of human rights abuses, withdrew from Mali on June 6, 2025.
Just a day later, Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced the deployment of Africa Corps—an organized, state-run paramilitary unit now operating under official government command.
The report, titled “Russian Repositioning in the Sahel – From Wagner to Africa Corps,” describes this development as an unprecedented escalation in Russia’s involvement in West Africa.
Unlike Wagner, Africa Corps is fully integrated into Russia’s military intelligence, removing the veil of “plausible deniability” that once allowed Moscow to distance itself from Wagner’s operations.
Analysts warn that Africa Corps inherits Wagner’s troubling legacy, including allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings, such as the 2022 Moura massacre in Mali.
The move signals a new era of official and structured Russian presence in the Sahel—one that could significantly shape the region’s military and political dynamics in the years ahead.
