According to Africanews, a new investigation has revealed that Russia’s foreign intelligence service, the SVR, has taken over the influence operations previously managed by the Wagner mercenary group in Africa following the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Wagner had been Russia’s most prominent private military organisation, with a wide presence across Africa. The group deployed fighters to support national armies in countries such as Libya and Mali and was also linked to large-scale disinformation campaigns and political interference. Human rights organisations had frequently criticised its methods.
After Prigozhin died in a plane crash in 2023, shortly after leading a brief mutiny against Moscow, the Russian defence ministry moved to restructure Wagner’s activities. Security operations were placed under a new umbrella group known as the Africa Corps. However, the investigation states that responsibility for political influence and propaganda efforts was transferred to the SVR.
The findings come from a joint investigation by several media and research organisations, including Forbidden Stories, All Eyes On Wagner, Dossier Center, openDemocracy and iStories. The report claims the SVR now oversees efforts aimed at promoting Moscow’s political and economic interests, coordinating disinformation campaigns and limiting rival influence across Africa and beyond.
Investigators say around 100 consultants are linked to Wagner’s former influence division, known as Africa Politology or “The Company”. Between 2024 and 2025, teams were reportedly active in countries such as Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ghana, Libya, Mali, Niger and Sudan, as well as Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Cameroon, Benin and Namibia.
The investigation began after more than 1,400 pages of internal documents were anonymously shared with a pan-African media outlet. The files included strategic plans, staff biographies, financial records and summaries of operations carried out in 2024. Journalists involved in the probe say they verified dozens of the documents.
The Sahel region appears to be a central focus. In Mali, the SVR is reportedly tasked with gathering intelligence on the plans of France and the United States. The report also links Russia’s strategy to the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States, formed by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger after a series of coups between 2021 and 2023. The three countries later withdrew from ECOWAS and strengthened ties with Moscow.
Journalists estimate that nearly 7.3 million dollars was allocated to influence operations between January and October 2024, averaging about 750,000 dollars per month. Despite the scale of funding and activity, the investigation suggests that Russia’s economic gains in Africa have so far been limited, with many agreements yet to translate into profitable ventures.
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