Africa as a testing ground for Russian expansion, violence, and destabilization
russia continues to use Africa as a testing ground for expansion, violence, and destabilization.
In Mali, new cases of russian violence against civilians involving the so-called “African Corps” are being documented. In particular, cases of rape, torture, beheadings, and attacks on the civilian population have been recorded, write Western media.
Due to russia’s actions, tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing to neighboring countries, forming new migration flows that could reach Europe. Despite this, russian media openly praise the activities of the “Corps”, and the russian foreign ministry confirms its presence in Mali, allegedly at the request of local authorities.
Since 2023, 5,000 civilians have been killed in Mali (this figure is likely underestimated). According to various sources, approximately 46% were killed during attacks involving russian groups – the PMC “Wagner” and the “African Corps”.
russia, under the guise of friendship, educational and cultural events, uses Africa as a tool of geopolitical pressure: it strengthens the dependence of African countries on russia, undermines their sovereignty, provokes radicalization, and refines the methods of hybrid warfare.
The Center also wrote, that gold from Africa is used to circumvent sanctions and finance the war against Ukraine.
