Russia's engagement with African countries will help Moscow shore up its war economy and increase its political and military leverage vis-a-vis the West, but expanding jihadist activity in the Sahel risks undermining the Kremlin's approach to Africa in the coming years. On July 25-27, Tuareg rebels from Mali's Permanent Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad reportedly killed at least 84 members of Russia's paramilitary Wagner Group, as well as over 47 Malian security forces near the northern town of Tinzaouaten, marking one of Wagner's largest defeats on the continent. First deployed in 2018 to the Central African Republic, the Wagner Group -- also known as the Africa Corps -- has since expanded its military footprint in Africa to Libya, Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. While late Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin first oversaw these deployments, Russia's Ministry of Defense largely took over the group's operations on...
