Consider this possibility – the gravest threat from Russia isn’t being deployed in Europe, but instead along the Gulf of Guinea. The Russian military, tied up with their commitment in Ukraine, have been choosing their battles very thoughtfully, not involving themselves in recent tumultuous situations in the South Caucasus and Middle East. Nonetheless, West Africa has emerged as an exception to their non-intervention policy.
In the aftermath of the botched rebellion headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, back in June 2023, the Russian government made the decision to establish a new paramilitary outfit. Christened the Africa Corps, this group is closely connected to the military hierarchy. Consequently, it took over the majority of the operations previously under Wagner’s purview on the African continent and extended its influence into Burkina Faso and Niger.
Now, it has cast its eyes towards expanding into Benin and Togo. All signs suggest that Russia’s strategy is to secure a foothold in West Africa while its conventional military forces are preoccupied with the Ukrainian conflict. Once their resources are freed up, Russia is likely to further boost the presence of Africa Corps.
The Kremlin is implementing a strategic plan here – the Africa Corps is a low-cost, low-risk venture under Russian government control, and integrated into larger political maneuvers. The expansion of the Corps is also aided by Russian state corporations seeking out prospective business opportunities.
As the Russian government selects the deployment points for the Africa Corps, their increasing interest in gaining access to ports in the Gulf of Guinea becomes evident. The region is a prime target due to its wealth in hydrocarbon resources and its strategic position as an important maritime transit point.
Currently, the Africa Corps’ presence might seem insignificant and not pose an immediate threat to the security of the U.S. and Europe. However, with further expansion, Russia may gain access to important mineral resources, further entrench the authoritarian regime, and project naval power into NATO’s southern fringe. This progression surely warrants the attention of U.S. and European policymakers, who should fashion a united front to counter Africa Corps’ expanding influence.
It has been two years since Africa Corps burst onto the scene with a special focus on the Sahel region, which has been plagued by military coups and an escalating wave of anti-French sentiment. Africa Corps managed to establish operations in Mali, continuing to collaborate with Wagner even after Prigozhin’s demise. This intensified in the spring of 2025 with an official visit by Yevkurov, reaching its crescendo with Wagner’s announcement of ‘mission accomplished’ in early June that year.
Later in the same month, Assimi Goïta, the interim president of Mali, made a trip to Russia, meeting important figures like Russian President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Andrey Belousov. Evidently indicating a desire to deepen defense relations, he also toured the Kazan Helicopters plant in Tatarstan. Africa Corps has also extended its operations into neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso.
The Africa Corps hasn’t limited its attention to these areas – reports reveal that their trainers are present in Equatorial Guinea, safeguarding top officials while training local forces. Russian authorities have also alluded to potential defense collaborations with Cameroon. Moreover, Togo’s government has seen engagement from Yevkurov. By late July 2025, a Russia-Togo military cooperation agreement, facilitating joint military exercises, Russian training for Togo’s soldiers, and exchange of intelligence, received the Russian Duma’s approval.
Merely a week after, the Russian ambassador to Benin announced Russia’s plans to sign a similar military cooperation agreement with the country. The strategic geographic positions of Benin and Togo along the Gulf of Guinea make them highly attractive to Russia. Evidently, the Russian navy has utilized the Conakry port in Guinea for arms transportation into the Sahel.
If Russia manages to get access to the port of Lomé in Togo or São Tomé and Príncipe’s port in Príncipe, it could be beneficial in sustaining its operations in the Sahel region. Russia has craftily linked its West African endeavors and the Ukrainian war into an overarching narrative of ‘anti-neocolonial’ resistance against an allegedly oppressive West. In this narrative, Russia presents itself as a provider of sovereignty to these countries.
With Washington decreasing its African presence, Moscow is prepared to fill the void with the support of Russian Houses, its propagandists, and of course, the Africa Corps, leveraging their efforts to gain influence. Considering the shifting global priorities of the Trump administration, it appears Europe will need to take on a larger role in bringing stability to coastal West Africa, which is, after all, its immediate neighborhood.
To this end, a coordinated strategy focusing on West Africa should be formulated. This strategy should seek to channel aids effectively, support local solutions, build trust through collaborative, civilian-led initiatives, and counter the disinformation campaigns by Russia.
The post Russia Expands Africa Corps to Strengthen Foothold in West Africa appeared first on Real News Now.
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