Russia Expands Influence in Africa Through Wagner Group's Successor

The Russian government has taken control of the Wagner Group's operations in Africa, offering 'regime survival packages' to authoritarian leaders in exchange for access to natural resources.

• Russia is offering African governments 'regime survival packages' in exchange for access to strategically important natural resources, following the takeover of Wagner Group's operations.
• The operations, now run under the 'Expeditionary Corps', aim to dislodge Western companies from strategic areas and secure military and economic ties with African nations.
• Wagner's rebranding comes after its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died in a suspicious plane crash following a failed coup against Vladimir Putin in June 2023.
• The Russian strategy involves securing future stability for authoritarian regimes by providing military support and taking control of natural resources, including gold and uranium mines.
• This move by Russia is seen as an attempt to strategically displace Western influence in Africa and has raised concerns about the potential for increased Russian 'energy blackmail' in Europe.

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