Russia Is Shrewdly Playing the Long Game in Africa

Following the Wagner Group's mutiny, the Russian government established a new paramilitary unit called Africa Corps, placing it directly under its military command to play a long game on the continent. This force is methodically expanding Russia's influence by taking over Wagner's former operations and establishing a presence in West African nations like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Russia is pursuing a low-risk strategy to secure valuable port access in the Gulf of Guinea, tap into the region's rich resources, and project power toward NATO's southern flank. By embedding itself with military juntas and capitalizing on regional instability, Moscow is entrenching authoritarianism while building a foundation for future military expansion in Africa.