After months of behind-the-scenes talks, Russia has managed to phase out the Wagner Group in Mali and replace it with a new force called the Africa Corps—a clear sign that Moscow is reworking its playbook in the Sahel. Wagner’s fighters, once relied on by Mali’s military rulers for their no-nonsense approach, are either leaving or being folded into this new, more tightly managed Russian operation. So what’s really changing? On the surface, the Africa Corps isn’t expected to fight on the front lines. Instead, they’re there to train local forces and gather intelligence. But analysts say Russia’s broader goals haven’t shifted—they’ve just become more polished, more official, and potentially more difficult to push back against.