All Eyes on Wagner: the Russian presence in Burkina Faso is accelerating
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The Russian presence in Africa has received increasing attention in recent months, and Burkina Faso is no exception. According to a recent study published by All Eyes on Wagner, an open source research group, the Russian presence in Ouagadougou has been increasing since the Russia-Africa summit held in St. Petersburg last July.
On November 10, around twenty men in Russian military uniforms were spotted at Ouagadougou airport. According to information reported by Jeune Afrique, these men were housed at the Lancaster hotel in the Ouaga 2000 district and were responsible for protecting Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
Among the notable events, November 22 saw the emergence of a new channel on Telegram, Africa Corps, which presents itself as a paramilitary organization responsible for Africa. According to Lou Osborne of All Eyes on Wagner, this is an attempt by Russia to take over its activities in Africa, with Africa Corps serving as a front to house members of the Russian Defense Ministry.
“This looks like a window behind which the Ministry of Defense houses some of its members, whether the army or the security services, in order to carry out their missions in Burkina Faso. This shows a centralization of Russian activities in Africa, with Burkina Faso truly placing itself under the protection of Moscow,” Osborne explains.
Burkina Faso has become a point of interest for Russia since the Russia-Africa summit, and this increased military presence raises questions about Moscow’s goals and motivations in the region. While Wagner was once considered an independent, autonomous entity, the creation of organizations such as Africa Corps suggests that Russia is seeking more direct control over its activities in Africa.
This evolution of the Russian presence in Burkina Faso raises questions about its impact on the stability of the region and the dynamics of relations between Burkina Faso and other international actors. It will be interesting to follow how this situation develops in the coming months.