The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey published in August 2025 a study titled "Putin's New Frontier: The Prospects and Limitations of Africa Corps" by Hanna Notte.
This timely and well researched study concludes that Russia's Africa Corps is a bureaucratic restructuring and rebranding of the Wagner Goup, which only continues to function in the Central African Republic. It employs many former Wagner mercenary fighters and has taken control of its recruitment infrastructure.
The Africa Corps is tethered closer to the Russian military's chain of command. It prioritizes training and routine security assistance rather than the high-risk missions of the Wagner Group. It apparently relies on funding from Russia's state budget. The Africa Corps might face future competition from countries such as Turkey, Iran, and China.
