Among the dozens of Wagner mercenaries presumed dead after a lethal battle with Tuareg rebels during a desert sandstorm in Mali in July were Russian war veterans who survived tours in Ukraine, Libya and Syria, according to interviews with relatives and a review of social media data.
"After Prigozhin died in August last year, Wagner employees were invited to join a newly created group called the Africa Corps, under the defence ministry, "to fight for justice and the interests of Russia," according to the Africa Corps channel on social-media platform Telegram.
On the channel, Africa Corps says about half its personnel are former Wagner employees who it allows to use Wagner insignia."