Ahmad 
Russia is working on a new 20,000-strong battle group that will be instructed directly by the Russian Defense Ministry to conduct operations in 5 African countries.
By mid-2024, the African Legion will operate in Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Niger, and will take over the work of the Wagner military company.
According to the newspaper, the Russian Corps will be based in the Central African Republic as its new regional headquarters, revealing that Moscow plans to recruit former Wagner fighters and new recruits to join the corps.
Most of Wagner’s fighters were integrated into various combat forces under the command of the Russian Defense Ministry, after they were seen withdrawing from Ukraine.
The intensification of Russia’s presence in Africa also signals a major geopolitical change on the continent, following France’s long-standing hegemonic approach to the region.