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Russian Intelligence Takes Over Wagner’s Africa Operations After Prigozhin’s Death
Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service has assumed control of the Wagner mercenary group’s extensive influence operations across Africa following the death of founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, according to a comprehensive investigation by several international media outlets.
The investigation, conducted by a consortium including Forbidden Stories, All Eyes On Wagner, Dossier Center, openDemocracy, and iStories, reveals that while Russia’s defense ministry has attempted to replace Wagner’s military presence through a new umbrella organization called Africa Corps, it’s the SVR that has seized control of the mercenary group’s political and economic influence networks.
“The SVR has now taken over the most effective tool of the Wagner Group,” the investigation concluded, referring to Wagner’s sophisticated influence branch known as Africa Politology or “The Company.”
This political operations arm reportedly employs nearly 100 consultants and has deployed teams to at least 17 African nations between 2024 and 2025, including Angola, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ghana, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sudan, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Cameroon, Benin, and Namibia. The operation has also extended beyond Africa to Latin American countries such as Argentina and Bolivia.
The investigation was triggered by an anonymous leak of internal documents to The Continent, an award-winning pan-African media outlet. The leaked files—over 1,400 pages of strategic plans, staff biographies, operational reports, accounting records, and summaries of disinformation campaigns from January to November 2024—provide unprecedented insight into Russia’s covert influence operations.
According to the investigators, “The SVR provides a layer of intelligence with information on specific topics, recruits sources, opens access and places key agents of influence in strategic roles.” These operations blend political influence, disinformation campaigns, and security services in ways that “go far beyond the usual practices in the sector.”
The investigation highlights internal competition between Russian agencies. While the defense ministry oversees the GRU military intelligence and has taken control of Wagner’s military operations in countries like Mali, it failed to bring the mercenary group under its complete control in the Central African Republic, where the SVR reportedly assists the defense ministry in navigating relationships with remaining Wagner elements.
In the strategically important Sahel region, the SVR has been particularly active. “In Mali, the SVR is tasked to provide intelligence to Africa Politology regarding the military and political plans of France and the United States in the Sahel,” the consortium noted. The intelligence agency is also supporting the creation of new military-political unions among Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea—countries that have recently experienced coups and turned away from traditional Western partners, particularly France.
The formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in 2023 by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger is viewed as “a significant political win” for Russian strategy in the region, according to Lou Osborn, co-author of the investigation. “They have been particularly successful in the unstable, vulnerable Sahel countries,” Osborn told AFP.
Financial records revealed by the investigation show substantial investment in these influence operations. Between January and October 2024, the budget for these activities totaled nearly $7.3 million, averaging about $750,000 monthly, channeled through a network of companies from the SVR to “The Company.”
Despite this significant financial commitment and extensive network, the investigators suggest Russia’s African ventures haven’t always yielded tangible results. “Russia is playing the long game but the results are not always quick to materialize,” they concluded. “On the African continent, Russia is signing a lot of memorandums of understanding but fails to convert these non-binding agreements into money-making businesses.”
The investigation provides a rare glimpse into how Moscow has reorganized its influence operations following Prigozhin’s death in a plane crash in 2023, which occurred shortly after his short-lived mutiny against the Russian military leadership.
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14 Comments
The Wagner Group has been a controversial actor, so their removal from Africa could provide an opportunity for more constructive engagement between Russia and African nations. However, the SVR’s new role raises concerns about potential for covert meddling.
You make a fair point. While the Wagner Group’s departure may be welcome, the SVR’s takeover could lead to a different set of challenges for African countries to navigate.
The Wagner Group has been accused of human rights abuses and undermining democracy in Africa, so their removal from the continent may be a positive step. However, Russia’s continued involvement through the SVR is concerning.
You raise a good point. While the Wagner Group’s departure could be seen as an improvement, Russia’s intelligence services taking over is likely not a welcome development for many African nations.
This is an important development to track, as it could signal a shift in Russia’s approach to influence operations in Africa. The Wagner Group’s political arm has been quite active, so the SVR’s involvement will be crucial to monitor.
Agreed. The transition of power from the Wagner Group to Russia’s intelligence service will be a key factor in understanding the direction of Moscow’s engagement with African nations going forward.
The investigation into the Wagner Group’s African operations provides valuable insights into the complex web of influence and power dynamics in the region. It will be interesting to see how the SVR’s takeover plays out and how it affects Russia’s broader strategic interests.
You raise a good point. This shift in control over the Wagner Group’s assets in Africa could have significant implications for the balance of power and geopolitical maneuvering in the region.
This is a complex situation with a lot of moving parts. It will be important to closely monitor how the SVR’s involvement in Africa unfolds and how it affects the political and economic landscape in the region.
Agreed. The shift in power dynamics bears close watching to understand the implications for stability, security, and the balance of influence in Africa.
Interesting development. The Wagner Group has been a major player in Africa, so it will be important to see how Russia’s intelligence service handles their operations and influence going forward.
I wonder how this shift will impact the dynamics on the ground in Africa. The Wagner Group has been entrenched in many countries, so this transition could have significant geopolitical implications.
The news of the SVR’s takeover of the Wagner Group’s African operations is a significant development that warrants close attention. It will be important to monitor how this transition unfolds and its potential impact on the political and security landscape in Africa.
Absolutely. This is a pivotal moment that could reshape Russia’s engagement with Africa and the dynamics of influence in the region. The implications will be crucial to follow closely.