Yesterday at 19:21
The Kremlin wants to expand its influence in African countries. The Russian Ministry of Defense will create the so-called “African Korps”. The units will be used to “solve military problems and counter European influence.” In fact, conduct full-scale military operations on the territory of third countries, FREEDOM reports.
A salary of 280 thousand rubles (or almost 3 thousand euros), free medical care, as well as life and health insurance at the expense of the federal budget. Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels are already actively campaigning to join the new African corps of the Russian Ministry of Defense. Some of them report that the corps is being formed under the patronage of the GRU, and will be headed by Konstantin Mirzoyants, a protege of Putin’s friend Vitaly Timchenko. Moreover, the goal of the initiative—in fact, a hybrid occupation—is not even hidden there.
Such an attitude towards independent sovereign states is the norm for Russia. And African countries suffer the most from this. Ostensibly to combat Western influence, but in fact to control the flow of resources, Russian mercenaries supported military coups or simply seized infrastructure in the Central African Republic, Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Niger. And all this is just in the last few years. It is noteworthy that even the name of Russia’s African Corps refers to the colonization of the continent by European countries, which is perceived extremely negatively in Africa itself.
“Here we can still draw a parallel with Rommel’s Afrika Korps, which operated in North Africa during the Second World War on the German side. There are many historical parallels. And, of course, this is such a significant humanitarian failure. Of course, it needs to be used and raised on international platforms, demonstrating that there is no idea in Russia’s expansion – what it comes with, what it brings to other nations,” said Yuriy Oliynyk, head of research programs at the non-governmental center “Ukrainian Studios for Strategic Research”.
Previously, such tasks were carried out by the Wagner PMC. After the death of Prigozhin, Moscow tried to subjugate the African infrastructure of PMCs. However, according to the American Institute for the Study of War, these attempts failed. Therefore, the Kremlin is now forced to officially recognize the mercenaries.
“The need for public notice of Russian Afriсa Korps recruitment confirms an insider’s claim that the MoD’s attempt to directly recruit former Wagner personnel for operations in Africa has been largely unsuccessful,” from the Institute for the Study of War report.
In contrast to Russian neocolonial policies, Ukraine is developing close relations with Africa based on partnership. Thus, the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and Tanzania Dmitry Kuleba and January Makamba had a telephone conversation for the first time. In less than a year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine visited 12 African countries. And Maxim Subkh, Ukraine’s special representative for the Middle East and Africa, announced the opening of new Ukrainian embassies on the continent.
