The New Scramble for Africa: Same Song, Different Singers
THE CLAIM: What are they telling us? Deutsche Welle reports that the United States is 'reshaping its approach' while Russia expands its 'Africa Corps' footprint across the Sahel. The article frames this as a dynamic, competitive struggle for influence in a region characterized by recent coups and instability. THE EVIDENCE: What does the public record actually show? The US engagement in the Sahel
isn't new; it's deep-rooted. Since 2007, the Pentagon's Africa Command (AFRICOM) has steadily increased its presence, deploying personnel, conducting exercises, and establishing bases like Air Base 201 in Niger, a $110 million project (US Department of Defense, 2019). This long-term US strategy has coincided with, rather than deterred, rising instability and coup attempts in the region. Meanwhile,
Russia's 'Africa Corps' (formerly Wagner Group) has stepped into vacuums left by receding French influence, offering security and military training in exchange for resource concessions, a model honed since its deployment in the Central African Republic in 2018 (UN Report, 2021). The article highlights a shift from France's Operation Barkhane to the recent withdrawal of French troops, creating an
opening for Russian paramilitary involvement. THE CONTRADICTIONS: Where does the official narrative break down? The 'competition' framing obscures the underlying continuity of foreign intervention. The US narrative often emphasizes counter-terrorism and democratic stability. Yet, the presence of significant US military assets, including drones and intelligence operations, has not prevented