Following Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death, Russia aims to replace the Wagner group’s mercenaries with a newly formed Africa Corps. This initiative seeks to bolster Russian military presence in Africa, with plans for Defense Ministry-controlled bases in at least five supportive nations – Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Niger. This move is seen as part of Russia’s strategy to revive its Cold War-era influence in Africa and take control of Wagner’s commercial interests, including mining operations.