Russia reorganizes the Wagner mercenary group in Africa to secure natural resources: research. Concern over Russian geopolitical influence in the region.

The Russian government has carried out a reform within the mercenary group Wagner following the suspicious death of its commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in an air accident in June 2023. According to internal documents seen by the BBC, Russia is offering African governments a "regime survival package" in exchange for access to natural resources in the western region of the continent. After Wagner's collapse following a failed rebellion, the Russian government has taken control of the group's multibillion-dollar operations through the Russian "Expeditionary Corps," led by an officer accused of being behind the attempted assassination of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal with the nerve agent Novichok in the UK. This change marks a shift in Russian foreign policy in Africa, according to experts like Jack Watling from the RUSI think tank, who claims that Russia is emerging from the shadows in its policy towards the African continent. The reform of Wagner under the control of the Russian "Expeditionary Corps" involves a strategy to displace Western companies in the region to secure vital natural resources. This approach has involved high-ranking Russian officials visiting countries such as Libya, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, and Mali, where they have assured local leaders of the continuity of Wagner's operations and cooperation in areas such as military training and control of natural resources. These changes not only demonstrate the consolidation of Russian power in West Africa but also raise concerns about potential human rights abuses and Russia's geopolitical influence in the region. The RUSI report highlights how Russia seeks to displace Western control of strategic minerals, such as uranium, which could have significant repercussions on global geopolitics. While the reform of Wagner represents a shift towards transparency in Russian operations abroad, it also poses challenges for security and stability in Africa, as well as for global geopolitical relations. Experts warn of the potential long-term consequences of this new Russian strategy, which could weaken global security and generate conflicts in various regions of the world.