Overview

• 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.