The saga of the Wagner Group continues…
Over the past year, Russia has effectively dismantled the Wagner Group, a well-known mercenary organization, and created new entities in its place. This transformation occurred following a brief rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the group’s late commander, against the Russian government.
Russia’s Kremlin deploys new mercenaries in Africa
‘Africa Corps’ replaces the Wagner Group as the country seeks to enhance involvement in Africa@SehgalRahesha tells you more
Watch more on https://t.co/AXC5qRugeb pic.twitter.com/whgsjBge30
— WION (@WIONews) February 6, 2024
On June 23, 2023, Prigozhin led his forces from Ukraine to seize the southern city of Rostov amid escalating tensions with Moscow’s military hierarchy. The move towards the capital was short-lived, however, as Prigozhin abruptly halted the advance the next day. Two months later, Prigozhin died in a plane crash, along with several senior members of Wagner, casting uncertainty on the group’s future.
Experts indicate that former Wagner mercenaries have dispersed throughout various Russian state structures. According to Dr. Sorcha MacLeod, a UN expert on mercenaries, while the original Wagner may no longer exist as it once did, versions of it persist within the state apparatus, albeit without a singular controlling entity.
#FPVideo: In a bid to further expand its influence across the continent of Africa, Russia is recruiting a new armed force, the Africa Corps, to replace the Wagner mercenary group. Russia will deploy the Africa Corps to at least five friendly nations on the continent. pic.twitter.com/KtMbZgKsaE
— Firstpost (@firstpost) January 31, 2024
Historically, Wagner played a critical role in Russia’s military operations, especially in Africa and Syria, and more visibly in Ukraine during 2022 and 2023. At its peak, Wagner boasted around 50,000 members involved in significant battles such as those in Soledar and Bakhmut.
Post-mutiny, the Russian government has absorbed many of Wagner’s operations and personnel into other state and paramilitary units. Some Wagner units have reportedly joined the Rosgvardia or National Guard, which was described as President Putin’s “private army” and is led by his former bodyguard, Viktor Zolotov. The UK Ministry of Defence noted that by October 2023, Wagner elements were being integrated into the National Guard, assigned to roles in Ukraine and Africa under structured contracts.
Further integration saw ex-Wagner mercenaries aligning with Ramzan Kadyrov’s forces in Chechnya. Another significant shift was the emergence of the so-called “Africa Corps,” led by former GRU General Andrey Averyanov, which has taken up many of the roles previously filled by Wagner in Africa.
🇷🇺🇧🇫 Captain Ibrahim Traore received Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov.
Both agreed to re-establish the Russian embassy in the country, after 31 years.
Russia will also increase the number of trainers from its ‘Africa Corps’ division in the country.
“Russia plans to… pic.twitter.com/NnwhYqwhKb
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) June 5, 2024
This transition underscores Moscow’s continued strategic interest in Africa, where the Africa Corps is now more openly active, seeking to replace Western influence, particularly French, on the continent. Despite these changes, some remnants of Wagner reportedly still operate in the Central African Republic, possibly under the control of Prigozhin’s son, Pavel.
As of now, Wagner’s legacy and its methods seem to have been subsumed under state-controlled entities, effectively continuing its operations but under different guises. This restructuring appears to be part of a broader strategy to maintain Russian influence abroad while ensuring tighter state control over mercenary activities.
Major Points
- Russia has dismantled the Wagner Group, incorporating its members into state and paramilitary units, following a brief mutiny led by its commander Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023.
- Prigozhin’s sudden death in a plane crash shortly after the mutiny led to uncertainty about Wagner’s future and dispersed its members across various Russian government structures.
- The remnants of Wagner have largely been absorbed by the Rosgvardia or National Guard, a unit described as President Putin’s “private army.”
- A new entity, the “Africa Corps,” has been established to take over Wagner’s operations in Africa, continuing to exert Russian influence and secure resources.
- Some former Wagner operatives remain active in the Central African Republic, potentially under the leadership of Prigozhin’s son, Pavel.
Lap Fu Ip – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News