Thread by @Milatrud11

Russia expands into the Sahel with its new brand: Africa Corps:
After consolidating in Mali, Moscow is strengthening its collaboration with Burkina Faso and Niger through an armed structure intended to replace the Wagner Group Russland,Afrikaenglish.elpais.com/international/…

1b) Moskaus Söldner in Burkina Faso: Was über Russland-s Afrikakorps bekannt ist.

Es ist dem Verteidigungsministerium unterstellt.
lt US-Quelle: Rivale v Wagner
Soll Wagner in Afrika ersetzen.
Ist weniger autonom als Wagner Africa Corps,Russia,Russlandn-tv.de/politik/Was-ue…

2) Russia will increase the number of military instructors in junta-led Burkina Faso, FM Lavrov says during a visit there on Jun 5,2024.

Russia furthermore intends to supply Burkina Faso with military products Russland,Militäredition.cnn.com/2024/06/05/afr…

3)"The Wagner Group Lives on in Africa:
The name has changed [to“Africa Corps.”], but its efforts continue—now under closer supervision from the Kremlin." | Marcel Plichta, Christopher Faulkner, Raphael Parens
Russia,Russland,Afrika,Afrikakorpslawfaremedia.org/article/the-wa…

3b)"Russia has continued pioneering an armed resource-extraction model in the CAR,pursuing gold mining on an industrial scale and embedding itself in other sectors of the..economy,from exporting timber to brewing beer.
These..are bilking the CAR of natural resources.."+env damage

3c)"In Mali, Prigozhin’s mutiny did little to disrupt Wagner’s ongoing operations but shifted the command and control structure to bring its work in the country under Moscow’s formal control.
Rather than slow down the operational tempo,Africa Corps has opened new fronts.."

3cc)"As in the CAR, Russian support to Mali hinges on protecting the regime.
Unlike in the CAR, however, Russia’s resource extraction model has limits in Mali.
Mature mining projects controlled by major multinational mining ventures and the military’s initial reluctance to.."

3d)"Africa Corps’s recent intervention in Burkina Faso demonstrates the dividends of enhanced state involvement in Russian PMC activity abroad.
While Wagner had failed to break into the Burkinabe security assistance market, Africa Corps succeeded, aided by its new partnership.."

3e)Niger.Another 100 Africa Corps troops deployed to Niamey on April 11 [2024] to begin training operations with the Nigerien army. ()
On May 3, an unspecified number of Russians moved into Airbase 101 in Niamey, which also continues to host U.S. troops." who will leave mid-Sep

3f)Chad might be the next target for the Africa Corps()
The Kremlin has likely contributed to 2 separate plots to install new leadership()
1st:Libyan-based militants killed Idriss Déby Itno in 2021
2nd:2023:plot to offer Chadian rebel groups help to overthrow Mahamat Idriss Déby

3g)"Finally,U.S. policymakers must understand that policies to counter Russia are distinct from U.S.-Africa policy.
The challenges African nations face are enormous, and Russia’s overall impact on the continent is negative but limited."

US /USA
Afrika
Africa Corps /Afrikakorps

4)"Russia is taking advantage of recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to embed itself in the Sahel. However,its indiscriminate counterterrorism tactics come with a cost for their forces and the regimes it protects" | Kyle Robertson Russland,Afrikawashingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysi…

5)"The Wagner method: How Russia crept into Africa:

'Russia's conquest of Africa' (2/3).

Capitalizing on growing anti-French sentiment, the Kremlin has extended its influence across the continent through the paramilitary group." Afrika,Russland,CAR,Mali,lemonde.fr/en/internation…

6)War‘tour’,football and graffiti:How Russia is trying to influence Africa.
"African Initiative",a newly founded Russian media organisation defines itself as an “information bridge between Russia and Africa”: Alleged links to RUS intel

Russland in Africabbc.com/news/articles/…

7) The US-Russia battle for influence in Africa plays out in Central African Republic (CAR): Russland,USA, Zentralafrika,Afrika,Wagnerapnews.com/article/centra…

8) 20:10 min:
Wagner:What's Russia up to in the Central African Republic?
DW interviews Dimitri Sytyi,a key player in the Wagner Group's activities in Africa.
We invited two experts(Beverly Ochieng(CSIS),Philip Obaji),to add perspective to Sytyi's comments.dw.com/en/wagner-what…

8b) Is the Central African Republic a testing ground for Moscow's Africa policy?

Dmitri Sytyi, head of the Russian cultural center,is linked to the Wagner mercenary group, raising questions about Russia's true intentions. Afrika,Russland,Zentralafrika,CARdw.com/en/is-russian-…

9) "Shadow Diplomacy: Russia’s Strategies to Whitewash Atrocities and Expand Influence in Africa"
"Russia was responsible for 40% of all disinformation campaigns across[Africa] due to its“cognitive warfare” campaign."
Russland, Wagner/Africa Corps,Afrikalansinginstitute.org/2024/11/18/sha…

10)In the Central African Republic,a former propagandist, [journalist Ephrem Yalike], lifts the veil on the inner workings of Russian disinformation.
Africa Politology belonging to the“Prigozhin galaxy,”  uses CAR journalists to manipulate public opinion forbiddenstories.org/in-the-central…

10b) "Prigozhin is dead, but his African media empire lives on.
Internal Wagner documents show how Putin maintains control over Central African Republic's information space.
🧵Here’s what you need to know"

Russia, CAR,Russland

10c)A former (2019-2022) staffer, CAR journalist Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo, exposes how Russia /Wagner’s disinformation machine worked in Central African Republic.
His handler was Mikhail Prudnikov,a former Russian youth activist.

Yalike fled to Europe. apnews.com/article/wagner…

10cc)The information CAR journalist Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo (29) shared with Forbidden Stories and its ten media partners reveals the inner workings of an unofficial Russian organization called Africa Politology.

---
Wagner
Russia

11) "Russian mercenaries have a bad reputation but some African regimes still employ them: study explores why"
here: Wagner in CAR
| Ori Swed, Texas Tech University and Alessandro Arduino,King's College London Russiatheconversation.com/russian-mercen…

12)The president of the Central African Republic (CAR), Faustin-Archange Touadera, has arrived in Moscow for talks on strengthening his country's partnership with Russia, the Kremlin said Jan 15,2025.

Russia's Wagner Group is present in CAR since 2018
barrons.com/news/central-a…

13) Across Africa, Russia is growing in influence.
What might Moscow want? Wagner/Africa Corps, Afrika,Russland,CAR*,Mali*,Libya,Sudan*,E.Guinea,Niger

gold*edition.cnn.com/2025/01/18/afr…

20) The ruling political parties of the Central African Republic (CAR) and Russia have signed a partnership agreement to "solidify" ties,days after a visit by president Touadéra to Moscow.

Touadéra praised Wagner as "instructors", as "brave warriors".
barrons.com/news/c-africa-…

21) Russian propaganda: How Moscow uses disinformation in Africa:
Disinformation campaigns are exploding across Africa, with Russia believed to be the main instigator.
DW explains how the methods and objectives differ from region to region and how ACSSdw.com/en/how-russias…

21) Russian propaganda: How Moscow uses disinformation in Africa: Disinformation campaigns are exploding across Africa, with Russia believed to be the main instigator. DW explains how the methods and objectives differ from region to region and how ACSS dw.com/en/how-russias…

22)Russia-n modes of influence in Africa post-Wagner:
Our report examines their strategies for rebranding,maintenance,diversification and expansion across key countries such as the Central African Republic(CAR), Mali, Sudan,Burkina Faso,Niger. Africa Corpsglobalinitiative.net/analysis/after…

23)Wagner's Successors Wage Campaign Of Terror In Central African Republic(CAR), RFE/RL Finds:
Wagner committed 362+ incidents of violence against civilians:786+ fatalities:ACLED uncoveringwagner.org/countries/cent…
Interactive map rferl.org/a/russia-wagne… Russians,Russen,Zentralafrika

23b)Wagner in CAR since 2018:
Wagner controlled at least 10 mines throughout CAR, incl the economically significant Ndassima mine in the Ouaka prefecture

Wagner generate 100s of millions of dollars from diamond and gold mining,timber harvesting,weapons trafficking,other sources

24) 2 missing Central African Republic (CAR) soldiers Celestin Bakoyo and Elie Ngouengue were kidnapped by Russian mercenaries, advocates allege apnews.com/article/centra…

24b)Alleged Killing of Soldier by Wagner Sparks Tension in Central African Republic(CAR):
Locals in Ippy accused the mercenaries of being so brutal that any attempt at an insurrection bc of the killing could be suppressed with total brutality.humanglemedia.com/alleged-killin…

25) Soft Power in the Sahel: Russian Influence and the Kremlin’s Internet Stronghold | Vikram Kolli Russia, Russland,Afrikahir.harvard.edu/soft-power-in-…

26)Docu 'Africa's Ghost Reporters',:
Russia's use of non-existing journalists/experts[e.g. Dongobada] in francophone Africa (12+ countries, 200+articles in local media) as part of an influence campaign.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1902327… youtube.com/watch?v=QneziQ…
x.com/YarnoRitzen/st…
🧵

27) Russia in Africa: Private Military Proxies in the Sahel Christopher M. Faulkner and Raphael Parens Russland,Afrika,Wagner,Africa Corps, CAR (2018),Mali (2021),Niger,Burkina Fasogjia.georgetown.edu/2025/03/24/rus…

28) CAR:
Wagner Fanta: Russia's Defunct Mercenary Group: Wagner Hopes To Make A Killing On Bottled Water.
Acc/to RFE/RL research: Wagner`s Crystal Water is available in Bangui since at least late 2023 rferl.org/a/russia-centr…

28b) “Although the Wagner Group in its original form no longer exists, many of its commercial ventures, like their mining operations, remain in operation in CAR,”
said C4ADS, a Washington-based research group that has tracked many of Prigozhin’s ventures.

28c)Lou Osborn, a French researcher who heads an org called All Eyes On Wagner,
said business ventures like bottled water serve a commercial purpose,but also a political purpose:
to undermine the image of the CAR’s frm colonial ruler, France, and make room for Russian influence.

28d)Gold, Diamonds, Hardwood Timber

Prigozhin’s mercenaries began deploying in force to the CAR in 2018.
Wagner-affiliated entities now control 10 mines in CAR.
One of the main mining cies is Lobaye Invest, which is managed by Prigozhin associates Dmitry Syty,Yevgeny Khodotov

29)CAR: Thousands rally against Russian Wagner mercenaries in Central African Republic on Apr 4,2025:
The rally was organized by opposition parties that object to Touadera’s third term as president.apnews.com/article/centra…

29b) Blood in the Shadows: Protests in the Central African Republic and the Pattern of Wagner Group Atrocities CARlansinginstitute.org/2025/04/07/blo…

30) "The Wagner group in the [CAR]has published several photos of their activities alongside local military forces and MINUSCA.

According to their own information, it would appear that MINUSCA is working in conjunction with mercenaries and FACA()"

31)Central African Republic:Bangui under pressure from Moscow to ditch Wagner for Africa Corps
CAR president Touadéra is being forced to sign a defence deal with Africa Corps,Russia's armed wing,before the end of 2025:But the first members arrive ~mid-2026.africaintelligence.com/central-africa…

22) Russia targeted French speakers in Africa with 'malign techniques,': AI-generated posts: Report by France's Viginum agency(fights foreign disinformation campaigns)
Central is i.a. Russian alleged news agency "African Initiative".
[see 6):BBC]
lemonde.fr/en/internation…

22b) Report by France's Viginum agency:
African Initiative has become "a key element in the restructuring and implementation of Russia's info and influence strategy in Africa"
after Prigozhin's death.
Its "activities are likely directed by the Russian state apparatus,()"

22c) Nigeria has been identified as a central battleground in Russia’s sophisticated influence operations/campaign across Africa: tech report by Viginum, France’s agency for combating information manipulation.

vanguardngr.com/2025/07/nigeri…

22c) At the heart of Russia`s influence campaign in Africa is a covert AI-driven framework
named “Al-Freak”,
a digital op leveraging fabricated media, synthetic personas, and coordinated disinformation networks.

Nigeria:a “central pillar”in🇷🇺’s strategic disinformation playbook.

22cc)Beyond online propaganda,Nigeria is also identified as a primary launchpad for the"African Initiative"’s mobile application, AFree, which purports to offer an African alternative to FB, X:
-high-profile launch in Lagos in July 2024
-coordinated digital ads

@threadreaderapp Unroll,please.

CAR
Wagner