Moscow brings the same kit to every African capital, and the results in Cairo, Addis Ababa and Kampala could hardly differ more. Also here: what a Russian House really does, Egypt's 94% of the trade, and why Kampala sides with Washington.
Russia's air bridge to Africa was running through Sudan years before Assad fell. Also here: 686 overflight notes from the author's own desk in Khartoum, two January 2018 notes on military cargo to Bangui, and the route after Syria.
Wagner did not leave Africa. Its men stayed under a Defense Ministry flag, while Prigozhin's money and autonomy were cut away. Also here: Redut, Konvoy and Patriot, Ukraine's role at Tinzaouaten, and why the new system keeps losing in Mali.
Russia's embassies run on two tracks: diplomats in front, SVR, GRU and FSB officers behind them, competing with each other. Also here: the Zaslon unit and its arsenals, three postings compared, and why Lavrov at the top of the Duma list marks the end point.
Russia does not plan its way into Africa. It moves in when a local crisis opens a vacuum and lets the host pay in resources. Also here: who picks the countries, what Moscow counts as success, why the CAR and the Sahel differ, and how gold keeps the model afloat.
Russia's Africa portfolio is being carved up among the Kremlin, the military and Dmitriev, with no regional expert at the top. Also here: who holds which post today, three embassies that show the same pattern, and why the Africa Corps is running short of men and money.