Mali: The Failing Campaign of Wagner in Mali Presages Trouble for the Junta in Bamako

There have been more chatter and speculations about the activities of Russia’s mercenaries, formerly known as the Wagner Group, now reportedly called the Afrika Corps in the Sahel. It is unclear if the name “Afrika Corps” is official, but if so, it certainly confirms that the Russian outfit’s primary focus is indeed on Africa, likely as an arm of Moscow’s Africa policy. For the purpose of this analysis, I will continue using the name Wagner. The Wagner gang is active in many Sahelian regions. We have been hearing that a number of its mercenaries withdrew from Burkina Faso to go back to Russia to counter the ongoing Ukrainian offensive.