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 GroupPMC in Africa, by subsuming and rebranding its structures.[1][2][3]
History
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 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
In November 2024, the United Kingdom sanctioned the Africa Corps along the Espanola Battalion and Bears Brigade. According to foreign secretaryDavid 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]
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]
