Russia's SVR Takes Over Wagner's Africa Influence

Following the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023, Russia's Russia===Foreign Intelligence Service has taken over the Wagner Group's extensive influence operations in Africa. This includes the activities of Africa Politology, a branch employing nearly 100 consultants for disinformation and political influence campaigns across numerous African countries. The Russia===Ministry of Defence (Russia) is simultaneously attempting to replace Wagner's security operations through the Africa Corps, leading to instances of competition and coordination between the two government agencies. The Russia===Foreign Intelligence Service aims to advance Russia's political and economic interests, providing intelligence and diplomatic support for initiatives like the Alliance of Sahel States, formed by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Despite a budget of approximately $7.3 million for influence operations between January and October 2024, investigators note that Russia has yet to see significant financial returns from its efforts on the continent.