Wagner Group Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

Minerals, Mercenaries, and State Power: CAR’s Choice Between Wagner and Africa Corps

The Central African Republic (CAR) faces mounting pressure from Moscow to phase out the Wagner mercenary group in favor of a new Kremlin-controlled “Africa Corps.” Russian officials – including a deputy defense…

October 7, 2025African Corps, CAR, Mali, Russia, Sudan, Wagner Group

Geopolitics

Russia’s Africa Corps: Wagner’s Successor in Africa (2022–2025)

In 2023, following Yevgeny Prigozhin’s failed mutiny and subsequent death, Moscow moved to restructure Wagner’s operations in Africa under direct state control. The result was the creation of the “Africa Corps” – a…

September 30, 2025African Corps, GRU, PMC, Russia, Wagner Group

Intelligence ops Propaganda and Disinformation Psyops

How Russian Propaganda Works in Africa: Structure, Operators, and Countermeasures

Russia’s growing presence in Africa has not only been achieved through traditional diplomacy and military cooperation, but also through a wide-ranging propaganda campaign. This information warfare, designed to cultivate pro-Russian…

August 4, 2025Africa, Russia, Wagner Group

Corruption National Security Situation Reports Terrorism

Wagner Group Atrocities in the Central African Republic — Motives, Parallels, and Risks of Regional Backlash

The killing of local civilians by the Russian Wagner Group near a gold mine in the Central African Republic (CAR) has reignited international scrutiny over Moscow’s extractive activities in Africa.…

July 21, 2025CAR, gold, Russia, Wagner Group

Geoeconomics Intelligence ops National Security

Africa’s New Overseers: Inside Russia’s Covert Gold Empire”

Russia’s involvement in building a gold refinery plant in Mali is not just an economic move — it’s a strategic maneuver involving sanctions evasion, geopolitical influence, and shadow financing of military operations in Africa and…

June 18, 2025gold, GRU, Russia, SVR, Wagner Group

Conflict War crimes

Blood in the Shadows: Protests in the Central African Republic and the Pattern of Wagner Group Atrocities

The recent wave of protests across the Central African Republic (CAR) reflects growing public outrage at the continued presence and influence of Russian mercenaries, particularly the Wagner Group. Sparked by…

April 7, 2025CAR, Russia, Wagner Group

Coup Democracy Governance Intelligence ops

Russian Military Intelligence Behind Attempted Coup in Romania: The Shadowy Network Supporting Pro-Russian Candidate Călin Georgescu

Russian military intelligence is being held responsible for attempting to destabilize the situation in Romania by orchestrating mass protests in support of the pro-Russian presidential candidate Călin Georgescu. Riots Erupt…

March 10, 2025GRU, Romania, Russia, Wagner Group

Coup Democracy Governance profile

Ibrahim Traoré, Russian Influence, and U.S. Policy Challenges

Ibrahim Traoré, the current leader of Burkina Faso, is a military officer who took power through a coup in 2022. Here is an analysis based on his public actions, speeches,…

February 25, 2025Burkina Faso, France, Russia, USA, Wagner Group

Must Read PDF

Wagner’s Business Model inSyria and Africa: Profit and Patronage

This paper examines whether the Wagner Group (Wagner) was profitable under its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, what its business model has meant for Russia and Russia’s geopolitical rivals in the recent…

February 6, 2025Wagner Group

Intelligence ops War crimes

Russia May Be Involved in Violating Arms Embargo in Darfur

The circumstances surrounding the destruction of a military transport aircraft in North Darfur may point to the existence of supply channels funneling Russian weapons into Sudan. On October 22, an…

October 22, 2024Darfur, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Sudan, UAE, Wagner Group

Wagner Group