Moscow – June 10, 2025 — Russia says it is intensifying efforts to expand both economic and military cooperation across Africa, signaling a continued push for greater influence on the continent.
Speaking on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s presence in Africa is “growing,” as Moscow seeks to fill the power vacuum left by the retreat of Western nations following a wave of military coups in West Africa.
“We really intend to comprehensively develop our interaction with African countries, focusing primarily on economic and investment interaction,” Peskov told reporters.
“This also extends to such sensitive areas as defence and security.”
The remarks come as Russia’s Wagner Group — a private military contractor with deep ties to the Kremlin — reportedly exits Mali, where it had supported the ruling military junta in its fight against insurgent groups.
Despite Wagner’s departure, Moscow’s commitment to security operations in Mali appears unchanged. A Kremlin-backed force known as the Africa Corps is expected to take over Wagner’s role, ensuring continued Russian military involvement in the region.
Russia’s growing footprint in African nations like Mali, the Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea has increasingly alarmed Western powers. Once-dominant actors such as France and the United States have seen their influence wane, with French troops withdrawn or expelled from several West African countries in recent years.
Moscow’s broader strategy is seen as part of an effort to counter Western influence globally by forging new strategic partnerships in Africa through arms deals, infrastructure investments, and political backing.
