The grim choice between Wagner and Africa Corps in Centrafrique

The people of Centrafrique are facing a harrowing dilemma as the presence of Russian paramilitaries undergoes a structural shift. While President Touadéra appears inclined to maintain the status quo with the Wagner Group, Moscow is pushing for the integration of the Africa Corps. For the local population, this transition may offer no real relief, as the core issue remains the same: a cycle of brutality where only the financial logistics have changed.

A shift in payment, not in practice

Under the Wagner model, the group compensated itself through the aggressive exploitation of Centrafrique‘s natural resources. In contrast, the Africa Corps model proposed by Poutine demands a direct monthly payment of 10 billion francs CFA. Despite these different economic frameworks, the reality on the ground for civilians remains a grim sequence of massacres and human rights violations. Whether under one name or the other, the level of violence appears identical.

Following the death of Evguéni Prigojine, the Africa Corps took over operations in Mali. Any hopes that this change in leadership would bring a more disciplined approach were quickly extinguished. Refugees who escaped to Mauritanie report that the personnel remain the same, and the campaign of terror continues unabated. According to a village leader who fled the violence, there is no functional difference between the two entities.

State accountability and recruitment

One significant distinction lies in the chain of command. Unlike the semi-autonomous Wagner Group, the Africa Corps operates under the direct supervision of the Russian Ministry of Defense. This shift theoretically makes the Russian government legally responsible for any war crimes committed by the unit. However, the group remains shrouded in mystery, with an estimated 2,000 men active in Mali. Recruitment is no longer limited to Russie; the force now includes personnel from Biélorussie and various African nations, with witnesses noting the presence of black combatants speaking foreign languages.

Horrors witnessed by survivors

Testimonies gathered near the Mauritanie border paint a chilling picture of the Africa Corps‘ methods. Survivors describe a landscape of systematic executions, kidnappings, and sexual violence. One mother, Fatma, recounted the horror in her village of Kurmare, where “white men” looted homes and killed her children. She describes herself as a shell of a person, physically alive but emotionally destroyed by the loss of her 18-year-old daughter and her son.

The Peul community has been particularly targeted, often unfairly accused of collaborating with insurgents. Mougaloa, a cattle herder, witnessed her 20-year-old son being executed before her eyes. She describes an impossible situation where civilians are killed by the army if they don’t report insurgents, and killed by insurgents if they do.

A policy of scorched earth

The tactical approach of the Africa Corps has been described as a “scorched earth” policy. Soldiers reportedly do not engage in dialogue or interrogations; anyone in their path is treated as a target. There are even more disturbing reports of organ harvesting, echoing gruesome videos previously circulated by Wagner members on social media.

While official statistics suggest a slight decrease in civilian casualties compared to previous years, experts warn that these numbers are likely underreported. The pervasive climate of fear prevents many victims from speaking out, making it difficult to fully document the extent of the atrocities committed in the region. As Centrafrique stands at this crossroads, the evidence from neighboring states suggests that a change in name does not mean a change in fate for the vulnerable.