Russia’s Africa Corps has officially replaced the Wagner Group in Mali, signaling a major shift in Moscow’s paramilitary operations across West Africa. The Africa Corps, closely aligned with the Kremlin, has absorbed Wagner’s units following their abrupt exit, reshaping the country’s security dynamics amid rising jihadist violence.
According to reporting from Agence France Presse (AFP), “Officially, Wagner is no longer present in Mali. But the Africa Corps is stepping up,” a diplomatic source in the Sahel confirmed. The move on June 8, follows the 2023 death of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and the group’s subsequent dissolution and restructuring. A Telegram channel associated with Wagner declared, “Mission accomplished. PMC Wagner is going home.”
The Africa Corps now occupies the same bases Wagner once held in northern Mali and the capital, Bamako. Most of the Russian fighters who had served with Wagner have reportedly joined the Africa Corps. “Most of the Wagner personnel in Mali, who are originally from Russia, will be reintegrated into Africa Corps,” another diplomatic source said, emphasizing continuity in personnel but tighter Kremlin oversight.
Mali’s military junta, which came to power through coups in 2020 and 2021, had previously denied Wagner’s presence, claiming to work only with “Russian instructors.” However, Wagner’s presence was well documented by Western intelligence and human rights groups. The junta broke ties with France in 2022, prompting the withdrawal of 2,400 French troops and leaving a power vacuum Russia quickly filled.
The Africa Corps is expected to deepen Russia’s influence while maintaining the same operational goals: supporting the junta and combating Islamist insurgents. According to Beverly Ochieng from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, “Africa Corps will need to continue training and support, especially after the recent wave of attacks against the FAMA (Malian Armed Forces).”
Wagner forces had faced serious allegations of human rights abuses, including the execution of hundreds of civilians during joint operations with Malian forces. The Africa Corps now inherits that legacy as jihadist attacks surge and government control in central Mali weakens.
One Malian security source made the Kremlin’s role clear: “Wagner yesterday or Africa Corps today, our point of contact remains the same, it is the central power in Russia, that is to say the Kremlin.”
