Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed a new leader for the Wagner Group, a rebellious mercenary force.

It comes as the previous commander-in-chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, resurfaced after weeks of silence and posted a video declaring he is back in control and has a plan.

Prigozhin reassured his mercenaries that they fought honorably but should now shift their focus from eastern Ukraine to Africa’s resource-rich, politically unstable regions, where they can face inadequately equipped local rebels and enjoy better pay.

“He [Putin] decided to kill us all. [All] who disagree with the absolutely fascist ideology of President Putin,” Zelenskyy continued.

The situation has raised concerns, as Prigozhin’s return is seen as a rift within the Russian system.

British MI6 spy agency head Richard Moore acknowledged Prigozhin as Putin’s creation, but the latter failed to respond to his insurrection and instead cut a deal using the leader of Belarus to save himself.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also recognized the cracks appearing within the Russian system.

Prigozhin’s mention of Africa has caused worry about the region’s stability.

Analysts predict that Wagner’s presence in Africa will continue, benefiting certain African actors, both state and non-state.

Wagner’s commander, Dmitry Utkin, emphasized in the video that this is just the beginning of significant upcoming operations.

The events following Prigozhin’s failed “March of Justice” in Moscow remain unclear.

His attempt to spark a popular uprising did not succeed, and Putin responded by ordering his arrest and charging him and his troops with treason.

However, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko offered them a safe haven, enabling Putin to downplay the rebellion’s significance.