Reuters published on 9 July 2026 an article titled "Russia and Sahel States Deepen Military Ties as Insurgent Attacks Persist."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his counterparts from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to discuss growing military cooperation with the three Sahel countries. Russia confirmed its intention to strengthen the armed forces of the three countries.
The New York Times published on 4 May 2026 an article titled "'The Death Zone': How Russia Is Luring Africans to Ukraine" by Matthew Mpoke Bigg, John Eligon, and Zimasa Matiwane.
An estimated 1,000 Kenyans went to Russia and ended up in the war against Ukraine. Only 30 have returned to Kenya alive. In addition, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Botswana, Mali, and Cameroon have reported men being falsely recruited into the Russian army.
Africa Business Insider published on 11 February 2026 an article titled "Following Massive Diplomatic Expulsions from Europe, Russia Redirects Its Envoys to Africa" by Chinedu Okafor.
Russia's TASS news service estimates that more than 500 Russian diplomats have been asked to leave European countries since the beginning of the war with Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia has shifted 120 to 150 diplomats from Europe and reassigned most of them to embassies in Africa, especially in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali.
Business Insider Africa published on 18 October 2025 an article titled "Russia Caught in Diplomatic Tightrope between Two North African Superpowers" by Olamilekan Okebiorun.
Russia has strong military relations with Algeria but has signaled support for Morocco's Sahara Autonomy Plan, a move that could strain relations with Algiers.
The BBC posted on 13 February an article titled "'No Obstacles' to Russian Red Sea Base -- Sudan" by Basillioh Rukanga.
Sudan's foreign minister said on 12 February his country had reached a deal with Russia for the establishment of a naval base at Port Sudan on the Red Sea. The 25-year agreement allows Russia to establish a naval logistics hub with warships including nuclear-powered vessels and up to 300 personnel. All that remains is ratification of the deal.
Critical Threats published on 6 June 2024 an analysis titled "Russian Diplomatic Blitz Advances the Kremlin's Strategic Aims in Africa" by Liam Karr.
High-level Russian officials are meeting with Russian partners across Africa, seeking to advance the Kremlin's strategic goals of projecting greater Russian influence to supplant the West and better positioning Russia for prolonged confrontation with the West.
Russia is trying to create a pro-Russian bloc that advances its military, economic, and political goals in Africa in the Alliance of Sahel States (Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger). It is pursuing this program with very modest economic resources and vulnerabilities that eventually risk backfiring.
The Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor published on 14 November 2023 an analysis titled "Russia in the Red Sea: Converging Wars Obstruct Russian Plans for Naval Port in Sudan (Part Three)" by Andrew McGregor.
Russia was well advanced in obtaining Sudanese approval to establish a naval base on Sudan's Red Sea coast before the outbreak of conflict in April 2023 between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Moscow had good relations with both the SAF and the RSF before the beginning of conflict. But Russia's mercenary Wagner Group has been one of the primary backers of the RSF, which has caused deep concern within the SAF and caused it to put on hold any approval for a Russian base.
Comment: An RSF military victory in Sudan might revive the prospects for a Russian military base, but the SAF controls the Red Sea coast for now. In any event, Sudan would almost certainly remain unstable, and Russia could spend a lot of money creating a base and then find itself in possession of a white elephant.
Brookings published on 18 July 2023 a commentary titled "What's Ahead for the Wagner Group in Africa and the Middle East?" by Vanda Felbab-Brown.
Neither the Kremlin nor Russian intelligence services want to lose the Wagner Group's income and capabilities even if they want better control over the organization. Russian intelligence services will weaken Yevgeniy Prigozhin's involvement and strengthen the Kremlin's control over Wagner.
Reuters published on 19 July 2023 an article titled "South Africa Says Putin to Stay Away from BRICS Summit" by Nellie Peyton and Anait Miridzhanian.
South Africa announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on August 22-24, ending a dilemma that Pretoria as a member of the International Criminal Court would be obliged to arrest him for crimes during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will represent Russia at the summit. Putin will call in by video link.
The Washington Post published on 17 July 2023 an editorial titled "How to Tame the Russian Mercenaries Who Are Destabilizing Africa."
The Washington Post argues that the United States and its allies should redouble efforts to support peacekeeping missions in Africa--preferably through the African Union--by giving them the tools they need to fight their own wars and not have to rely on outside mercenaries.
The Insider posted on 14 July 2023 an article titled "'We Would Be Happy If He Doesn 't Come': South African Authorities' Request Not to Send Putin to BRICS Summit Rejected by Moscow."
The Russian government has declined the request by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to have Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov instead of President Vladimir Putin represent Moscow at the upcoming BRICS' summit in South Africa. Pretoria is trying to avoid an embarrassing situation as a signatory to the Rome Statute whereby it is required to arrest Putin if he visits the country. Putin faces an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court.
The US Institute of Peace published on 13 July 2023 a commentary titled "Russia's Wagner Uprising Will Force a Kremlin Reshuffle in Africa" by Heather Ashby and Joseph Sany.
The authors argue that the Wagner Group mutiny in Russia will not force Moscow to reduce its activities in Africa, but it "stains" its brand there and makes it easier to demonstrate how the Kremlin's corrupt methods harm African governance.
NBC News posted on 8 July 2023 an article titled "Is Russia Purging Wagner Group Troops in Africa?" by Dan De Luce and Gabe Joselow.
More than 600 troops with Russia's mercenary Wagner Group have left the Central African Republic in recent days, raising questions about a possible purge following the mutiny in Russia. The departures could also be part of a routine rotation of troops.
Critical Threats published on 5 July 2023 a commentary titled "Salafi-Jihadi Movement Update Special Edition: Wagner Will Remain in Africa" by Karolina Hird and Liam Karr.
The authors conclude that Russia has every intention of continuing Wagner Group operations in Africa, although it is not clear if the organization will engage independently or be placed under the Ministry of Defense. In Mali, jihadi activity increased after the arrival of the Wagner Group and is likely to expand again following the imminent departure of the UN peacekeeping force.
The Guardian published on 6 July 2023 an article titled "'It Is Like a Virus that Spreads': Business as Usual for Wagner Group's Extensive Africa Network" by Jason Burke.
So far, the network of businesses and security protection offered by the Wagner Group in Libya, CAR, Mali, and Sudan is continuing uninterrupted. The group's economic and political activities in Africa are important to Moscow but will likely be rebranded while Wagner's assets and systems continue.
Vice News published on 30 June 2023 an article titled "'No New Clients': Russia's Prospects in Africa Look Bleak after Wagner Mutiny" by Dipo Faloyin.
The Wagner Group is in Africa mostly to keep regimes in power and to enhance Russian influence. While Wagner continued its recruitment of new mercenaries after the mutiny and will likely maintain ongoing operations in Africa, it may not add new clients.
Israel Hayom published on 2 July 2023 an article titled "It's Business as Usual for Wagner Group in Africa, Despite Russian Turbulence" by David Baron.
The estimated 6,000 Wagner Group forces in Africa have continued their operations in spite of the upheaval facing the organization in Russia. The article includes an interview with Joseph Siegle, the director of research at the U.S. National Defense University. Siegle argues that Vladimir Putin can allow Yevgeniy Prigozhin to continue his programs in Africa, thereby generating income and influence for Russia, or try to take over the operations and likely lose the influence.
The Guardian published on 26 June 2023 an article titled "Wagner Mercenaries Will Not Be Withdrawn from Africa, Says Russia" by Jason Burke.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov assured African governments that thousands of Wagner Group mercenaries deployed in Africa will not be withdrawn following the mutiny led by their commander Yevgeniy Prigozhin. Lavrov specifically said they would remain in the Central African Republic and Mali, where the Wagner Group has the largest presence.
Russia's Sputnik published a series of short articles on the 4-day state visit to Moscow by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.
According to Sputnik, Isaias stated that we are entering "a new global order," which Eritrea welcomes; "the world order is on the verge of a radical transformation, in which Russia could play its part." Isaias added that "we need to get out of this cycle of containment, containment now, containment of Russia, the containment of China, the containment of Eritrea. . . . NATO will not survive, NATO will not be there."
Modern Diplomacy published on 2 June 2023 a commentary titled "The Strategic Partnership between Eritrea and Russia" by Kester Kenn Klomegah.
It discusses the background of the Eritrea-Russia relationship and prospects for moving forward.
Comment: There is minimal trade between Russia and Eritrea and Russia has little investment in the country and provides almost no foreign aid. The prospects for increasing trade, aid, and investment are poor. Eritrea does have a long and strategically located Red Sea coast, which Russia might find attractive for military purposes. Otherwise, it is difficult to imagine a significantly more important bilateral relationship. Both Russia and Eritrea seem to agree on the need to replace the current international order. The question is with what.
The Washington Post published on 23 April 2023 an article titled "Wagner Group Surges in Africa as U.S. Influence Fades, Leak Reveals" by Greg Miller and Robyn Dixon.
Based on recently leaked U.S. intelligence, the article concludes that Russia's mercenary Wagner Group is increasing its influence in Africa while that of the United States is waning. Wagner's rise heralds a new surge of great power competition in Africa and with it a resurgence of authoritarianism.
