The Messenger published on 18 December 2023 an article titled "Russia's Wagner Group Rebrands to Name Used by Nazis in Africa" by Nick Gallagher.
Russia's mercenary Wagner Group has been rebranded as the "Africa Corps," closely mirroring the Third Reich's "Afrika Korps" that operated in North Africa during World War II. The name change follows Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov's visit to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in early December to maintain Russia's presence in the region. The Africa Corps aims to get rid of Western influence in countries seeking its assistance.
For additional background on this development, see the Institute for the Study of War's piece dated 7 December 2023 titled "Western Failures, Military Coups, and Kremlin Gains Undermine US Strategic and Counterterrorism Interests in the Sahel" by Liam Karr.
