Russia launches new ‘Africa Corps’, part of Putin’s new military plans for the continent

After Wagner Group’s collapse in mid 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently launched a new Africa Corps, with 100 military staff officially deployed to Burkina Faso, with the aim to continue serving Russia’s interests on the continent — unofficially.
While the war in Ukraine continues unabated, the depth of the ties between Burkina Faso and Russia was revealed last week, when Moscow supported the country’s military junta by sending its soldiers to Ouagadougou — and de facto take over from the defunct Wagner. According to a Telegram post, these soldiers are supposed to help protect junta leader Ibrahim Traore as well as the general public from terrorist attacks. Unlike Wagner, the new unit is directly subordinate to Russia’s Defense Ministry. “They are here to train our men for handling weapons which the Burkinabe state has ordered. It is natural that they have come to train them,” said Nestor Podasse, leader of a movement close to the junta.
This latest move by the Kremlin is clearly also designed to show off Russia’s influence on the continent, particularly in West Africa. The new military structure is intended for deployment in five African countries, namely Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic (DRC), Libya, Mali and Niger, says Russian historian Irina Filatova from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. “Putin is very interested in Africa, especially West Africa,” says Filatova, stressing that this makes Russia new partner of choice for the junta leaders in the region. “According to the Western narrative, Russia is isolated. But Putin can show that Africa supports him,” she added. But in practical terms, Russia also hopes to establish the Africa Corps as an instrument of foreign affairs, she noted.