Description: Kremlin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, announced that Russia would continue to expand its footprint in the Sub-Saharan Sahel region through extended cooperation with Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, within several sectors such as economy, security and defense. Separate sources originating from Telegram channels supported by the Wagner Group, which recently vacated its operational presence in Mali, verified the information with geolocated satellite images of Russian cargo ships unloading military equipment and hardware. The Wagner Group would be replaced by the Africa Corps forces, which are also sponsored by the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU, and would continue to operate in the Sahel region supporting the junta – led governments against terrorist fractions and offshoots of terrorist groups as Al – Qaeda and the Islamic State. Wagner and the Africa Corps filled the vacuum in the Sahel after the abandonment of French sponsored military contractors in the region due to the military coups in the countries.
Impact: Despite waging a four – year long war against Ukraine in Europe, Russia continues to expand its global geopolitical outreach through interactive direct involvement with the junta – led governments in the Sahel. The withdrawal from European and US sponsored groups on the African continent plays in favor of Russia in the long – term as they would most likely expand their close military cooperation and influence over the Sahel states, developing interoperable economic ties which would set the basis for power consolidation by the leaders in the three countries. Russia would aim at leveraging the resources which these countries can offer, such as oil basins, mining and mineral capacities which would be coupled with Russia’s geostrategic establishment of geographical sphere of influence in the heart of Africa. The planned expansion emphasizes Russia’s geopolitical omnipresence and exploitation of critical regions in abscence of western – sponsored groups.