Whispers from the Sahel: Decoding Russia’s Growing Footprint in Africa
The dust devils swirling across the African Sahel conceal a complex and evolving struggle for influence. From Burkina Faso to Mali, a shadowy conflict unfolds, one where the lines between private military contractors, state-sponsored actors, and local insurgents blur. These videos, curated from various news outlets, offer fragmented glimpses into the operations of Russia’s so-called "Africa Corps" – a force shrouded in secrecy yet undeniably present in several African nations. Their involvement raises urgent questions about Russia’s strategic ambitions on the continent and the potential repercussions for regional stability. These videos dissect reported deployments, analyze the impacts of their presence, and explore the implications of Russia’s deepening involvement in Africa’s volatile landscape.
Key Takeaways from the Frontlines
Wagner’s Evolution: Evidence suggests a rebranding and potential redeployment of Wagner Group mercenaries, now operating under the moniker "Africa Corps," across several African countries, notably Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and the Central African Republic.
Shifting Alliances: Burkina Faso and Mali, grappling with insurgencies, have expelled French forces and pivoted towards Russia for military support, highlighting a geopolitical shift in the region. Niger appears to be following a similar trajectory.
Escalating Conflict: Reports from Mali indicate a significant clash between Tuareg rebels, Malian forces, and suspected Wagner mercenaries, resulting in substantial casualties on both sides. This underscores the volatile security situation and the risks associated with external military intervention.
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Information Warfare: Accusations of Kyiv opening a "second front" in Mali by Moscow, coupled with arrests in Nigeria for displaying Russian flags at protests, suggest a broader information war playing out alongside the physical conflict.
The Shifting Sands of Power: Analyzing the Trajectory of Russia’s Influence
The videos paint a concerning picture of increasing Russian involvement in the Sahel region, leveraging instability to gain a foothold. The alleged redeployment of Wagner forces, now as the "Africa Corps," may signal a more formalized and strategic approach by Russia to establish a lasting presence. The expulsion of French forces by several nations, coinciding with increased Russian military cooperation, indicates a reshuffling of alliances with potentially far-reaching consequences. The reported clashes between Tuareg rebels and forces including Wagner mercenaries highlight the volatile nature of these interventions and the risk of exacerbating existing conflicts.
A Continent in Flux: Understanding the Stakes
The future of the Sahel remains uncertain, as external actors vie for influence and internal conflicts continue to rage. These videos offer a crucial starting point for understanding the complex dynamics at play. Scroll down to delve deeper into this unfolding narrative, and witness the human stories behind the headlines. Your understanding of this critical situation starts now.
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Continental moves: Russia to send Assad mercenaries from Africa? | DW NewsDW News84,202 views | 1,195 | December 6 2024 22:08:32 (328 comments)[ Read more … ]
As the crises engulfing the world become ever more complicated and interconnected, Ukrainian intelligence officials say they believe Russia is about to send mercenaries from Africa to shore up Syrian government forces. The Ukrainians say the mercenaries will probably come from Russia’s “Africa Corps”, a rebranded version of the state-funded Wagner Group. The Africa Corps has established a foothold across the continent, though exactly where its mercenaries are active — and in what capacity — is hard to ascertain.
What is known is that they’re heavily involved in northern and western Africa. Russian mercenaries are fighting in Libya’s civil war, as well as propping up the anti-western military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. And they’re particulary influential in the Central African Republic, which signed a security pact with Russia in 2018.
Chapters:
0:00 The reports of how Russia could find a new way to help Assad
0:45 Philip Obaji, Investigative Journalist
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Dozens Of Russian Military Instructors Land In Burkina Faso: Reports | Firstpost AfricaFirstpost131,157 views | 1,742 | June 20 2024 15:50:33 (258 comments)[ Read more … ]
Dozens Of Russian Military Instructors Land In Burkina Faso: Reports | Firstpost Africa
Dozens of Russian military instructors have arrived in insurgency-hit Burkina Faso as per reports. Sources say these Russian military instructors came through flights from neighbouring Mali. Russian instructor is a term used for former fighters from Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, now regrouped under a new body called the Africa Corps. Burkina Faso military after taking power in September 2022, has expelled troops and diplomats from former colonial ruler France and has turned to Russia for military assistance. Islamist rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group have waged an insurgency since 2015 in Burkina Faso that has killed thousands and displaced two million people.
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Syria War: Can Russia’s Mercenaries Save Assad from Rebels? | Vantage with Palki SharmaFirstpost275,911 views | 2,957 | December 6 2024 01:57:06 (576 comments)[ Read more … ]
Syria War: Can Russia’s Mercenaries Save Assad from Rebels? | Vantage with Palki Sharma
As Syrian rebels capture key cities like Aleppo and Hama, Russia is reportedly sending private mercenaries to reinforce Bashar al-Assad’s troops. Ukrainian intelligence claims these fighters, potentially from Russia’s “Africa Corps,” are being deployed to counter the Islamist-led offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The rapid rebel advances, including the storming of Hama’s prison and the loss of strategic strongholds, have forced Assad’s forces into retreat. What does this mean for Syria’s ongoing war, and how will Russia’s increased involvement shape the conflict’s future?
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Has Russia’s war in Ukraine spread to Africa? | DW NewsDW News86,728 views | 916 | August 10 2024 12:15:01 (462 comments)[ Read more … ]
Has Russia’s war in Ukraine just spread to Africa? A diplomatic war of words is well underway: Moscow is accusing Kyiv of opening up “a second front” in Mali.
This after Bamako broke off diplomatic relations with Ukraine on Sunday. It was in the wake of a rebel attack in the north of the country that left dozens of Malian soldiers and Russian Wagner mercenaries dead. Analysts say the attack is one of the group’s most deadly defeats in Africa. Niger has since followed suit and also capped diplomatic ties with Kyiv.
In Moscow, in the shadow of the Kremlin, dozens of Russians came to mourn the fallen Wagner fighters. The group says its mercenaries and Malian soldiers took heavy losses in clashes with Tuaregs and Islamist fighters from an al-Qaeda affiliate. The Tuaregs said they had killed 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers during fierce battles in late July.
In Nigeria, at least ninety people are behind bars after images emerged of people waving Russian flags at protests against economic hardship in Kano State. Soon after, Russian flags were seen at rallies in the capital Abuja, as DW’s Christine Mhundwa reports from Lagos.
Together with Burkina Faso, the military leaders of Niger and Mali, broke away from the regional grouping ECOWAS earlier this year – forming a club of their own which leans towards Moscow: the Alliance of Sahel States. All three countries ditched longstanding western allies after a number of coups:
Mali saw two recent military takeovers — in August 2020 and May 2021. Russian influence was evident even before the coups.
Burkina Faso suffered two coups in 2022, the first in January and the second in September.
Then in July 2023, Niger’s democratically elected president was deposed in a coup and the country also turned to Russia for its security needs.
00:00 Russia’s influence in Africa
04:48 DW speaks with Beverly Ochieng, a security analyst specializing in the Sahel and global power competition in Africa
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Big Blow To Russia’s Wagner Group In Mali, Rebels ‘Rout’ Army Soldiers & Mercenaries In 2-Day ClashCRUX107,214 views | 1,205 | July 28 2024 12:40:02 (853 comments)[ Read more … ]
Mali rebels have reportedly killed “dozens” of Malian soldiers and Russia’s Wagner mercenaries in fighting near the Algerian border on July 26-27. An alliance of Tuareg separatist groups called CSP-DPA* claimed its rebels “routed the entire column of Malian army and Russian mercenaries”. Several Russian military bloggers on July 28 reported that at least 20 Wagner mercenaries had been killed in an ambush near the Algerian border. If true, this would be the biggest blow inflicted on Wagner mercenaries by Tuareg rebels in Mali.
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Video: AP/AFP/Reuters
0:00 – Introduction
0:24 – Russia’s Wagner & Malian Soldiers “flee, Surrender” to Rebels
2:32 – “20 Wagner Mercenaries Killed” by Mali Rebels in Biggest Blow
4:12 – Mali Caught Between Coups and Islamist Insurgency
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Russia’s Bases in Syria Critical for Operations in Africa, Here’s Why | Firstpost AfricaFirstpost12,735 views | 176 | December 10 2024 15:50:41 (39 comments)[ Read more … ]
Russia’s Bases in Syria Critical for Operations in Africa, Here’s Why | Firstpost Africa
The fall of Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad is going to deal a heavy blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin, not just in West Asia but even in Africa. Russia had one airbase and one naval base in Syria and these were used by the Wagner Group, now Africa Corps, to use the Syrian bases to launch operations in Africa. From Syria, the Africa Corps would be deployed to Sudan, Libya, Chad, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, with Assad now living in Moscow, Putin has to rethink his strategies in Africa with the bases in Syria now completely out of operations.
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