Weapons Instead of Valkyries: How the Wagner Group Increases Russia’s Influence in Africa
- Vadim Martschenko
- Mar 25
- 4 min read
When you hear the term Wagner Group, you might think of a string quartet that enjoys performing works by the famous composer. But no, the Wagner Group is actually a paramilitary organization controlled by the Russian government, with a primary focus on Africa. So why are Russian mercenaries operating in Africa, and how did the group come about?
The exact founding date of the Wagner Group is unclear, as the organization has never been completely legal. In theory, Russia is not allowed to maintain an official army that operates abroad. This has led to the idea of forming a seemingly independent mercenary group for particularly controversial and brutal missions outside the country's borders. Although the Wagner Group is primarily funded by the Russian Ministry of Defense, it was previously registered as an organization based in Argentina. This loophole allows Russia to pursue military objectives without having to take public responsibility. Since 2023, the Wagner Group has been registered in St. Petersburg as a private organization (Moscow Times, 2023).
The Wagner Group primarily consists of former Russian soldiers trained in the southern regions of the country. Many of its fighters come from prisons or labor camps, gaining amnesty through their participation in the brutal military group. Over time, the Wagner Group has also recruited foreign mercenaries, particularly from the countries in which it operates. In the Central African Republic, for example, rebels have been officially handed over to the Wagner Group by the state. (adf, 2023).
It does not matter whether someone has a criminal record, mental illness, or extremist views; everyone is welcome as long as they serve Russian interests.
Thus, the Wagner Group has also recruited soldiers from European and Western countries, as the pay is highly attractive. Mercenaries of the group can earn up to 5,000€ per month. (Middle East Eye, 2022). The price for this salary: participating in some of the most brutal and bloodthirsty operations on behalf of the Russian state.
The leader of the Wagner Group and the one responsible for keeping its operations a secret used to be the Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close associate of Putin. Interestingly, Prigozhin began his career as a Kremlin caterer. The group's commander was Dmitry Utkin, a former Russian military officer. Both Prigozhin and Utkin were associated with the far-right. The name Wagner Group stems from their admiration for Hitler, who was a great fan of Richard Wagner’s operas. The Wagner Group is known to have close ties to neo-Nazis and other far-right organizations. Both Utkin and Prigozhin died in a mysterious plane crash shortly after a feud with the Kremlin. Following that, Prigozhin’s son Pavel Prigozhin is said to have taken over the group.
Ever since Pavel’s takeover, a new group formed out of the Wagner Group, which is called the African Corps. The name is again inspired by Hitler and his army in Africa during the Second World War. This group is now officially funded by the Russian government. The rebranding from Wagner Group to Africa Corps aims to disguise the group's negative reputation, even though both entities are closely linked and often used interchangeably in news reports. The new objectives of the group focus on supporting African governments in the fight against terrorism. That the group is causing a lot of terror themselves to increase Russian influence is, of course, denied by officials.
Photo by Monica Melton on Unsplash
The Wagner Group operates worldwide but was especially active in Africa. It was present in Libya, Mali, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, and the Central African Republic. The new African Corps is particularly influential in West Africa and the latter two countries where it “maintains order” and supports anti-Western leaders.
This development coincides with many West African nations loosening military ties with France, their former colonial power. Consequently, Russia has seized the opportunity to expand its influence in the region by sending military troops and supporting autocratic regimes. Just last month, Russian soldiers killed over 30 innocent civilians in Mali, officially as part of their campaign against Islamist militants (Reuters, 2025).
In the Central African Republic, the Africa Corps serves as the president’s security force and hasve established a Russian cultural center in the heart of the capital. Officially, their goal is to provide development aid. Unofficially, however, they are perceived as spreading Russian ideology in Africa and winning over the local population through exchange programs and funding initiatives. Russian is increasingly replacing French as the primary language of instruction in the Central African Republic. The Russian group is also building new headquarters near the capital, Bangui, to enhance its operational capabilities on the continent (DW, 2024).
However, Russia’s position in Africa may be at risk. The fall of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad meant the loss of two crucial military bases in the region, making it significantly harder to supply forces in Africa.
The group is already working on establishing alternative bases, including a planned port in Sudan with access to the Red Sea and a military base in Libya. Nonetheless, the group's future remains uncertain due to the logistical challenges it now faces. Let’s see how the Russian military continues to shape geopolitics in the global south and whether recent developments will lead to further restructuring of its military groups and their ambitions.
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