The Russian security company Wagner Group is known for its heavy presence in war-torn Libya and is reportedly expanding across the African continent, interfering in conflicts and working for the Kremlin’s interests.
The Wagner Group was formed in 2014 in Ukraine and is owned by businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, and is intensely involved in several conflicts, not only in Ukraine but also around the world, from the Middle East to Latin America. However, the group’s most famous presence has taken place in Syria and Libya, where Russia has actively participated in the civil war and reportedly used the Wagner Group as its proxy in the region. Although Russia does not officially recognize any cooperation with the Wagner Group, reports from the field show otherwise.
After its first founding in 2016, it was reported that the group had 1,000 employees, which quickly culminated in 6,000 in 2017. The group reportedly has offices in Argentina, St. Petersburg and Hong Kong.
Although company employees are not allowed to take and post any photographs or video recordings or share their location, there are many reports of the group’s presence in different countries, which often witnesses controversy.
Recently, the locations where Wagner’s presence has been reported have been extended from Libya to (almost) the entire African continent, where the group is reportedly not only involved in the conflicts of training armies but also running mining and cyber security companies.
Some of the African countries that reportedly have a Wagner presence are Sudan, the Central African Republic (CAR), Zimbabwe, Angola, Madagascar, Sudan, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique and (probably) the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It is reported that Wagner (and its subsidiaries) have certain privileges and rights in these countries to use and take advantage of these countries’ natural resources and in return to provide weapons, technology and military services.
Libya: Wagner’s playground
In Libya, Russia has supported Putist General Khalifa Haftar in his fight to seize power from the UN-recognized Government for National Agreement (GNA) in Tripoli.
The US African Command (AFRICOM) on 24 July 2020 accused Russia of “playing an unhelpful role in Libya by supplying supplies and equipment to the Wagner Group.”
The Wagner group has 2,000 people in Libya, according to the command. The group currently has bases in the cities of Sirte and Jufra.
Last year, the United States also imposed sanctions on three individuals and five units linked to the Wagner group after accusing the mercenary group of laying landmines in and around Tripoli.
During the conflict process, foreign mercenaries and weapons have flowed into the country since Haftar launched its offensive focus on the capital Tripoli.
Despite the deadline for the alien of foreign mercenaries from Libya during a ceasefire in October that passed last month, talks continue to accelerate the process as no movement has been announced or observed on the ground.
CAR: Wagner’s bad sky
In CAR, where there have been domestic tensions since 2013, it is speculated that Russia has overthrown France as a dominant foreign power in the country through the presence of the Wagner group.
It is estimated that there are about 450 Wagner mercenaries in the country today, who have served as military trainers since 2018. According to a website called “The Africa Report”, there are currently more than a thousand “military trainers” in CAR.
Wagner acts as a security provider in the country and has an important role in the training of the presidential guards and the army.
However, the group also protects the gold and diamond mines in CAR and confiscates some of the income from these mines.
The mercenaries of the Wagner Group are currently housed in the Berego Palace, which was once the headquarters of Jean-Bedel Bokassa, then a self-proclaimed emperor, and has now been transformed into a military base.
An infographic of the countries in which the Wagner Group operates on the African continent, March 4, 2021. (Infographic by Adil Girey) Sudan: Wagner’s ‘protective’ face
In Sudan, it is known that the Wagner Group searched for mining sites through its satellite companies “Meroe Gold” and “M Invest” as early as 2017.
The group has also provided military training to the Sudanese military. Mercenaries are said to be present throughout Sudan, from Khartoum to Darfur. It is also known to regularly transfer weapons and personnel from Sudan to CAR, which is speculated to be one of the reasons why the US sanctioned M Invest back in July 2020.
The Wagner group originally entered Sudan after Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir expressed his need for protection from US “aggressive actions” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Since then, even after the overthrow of al-Bashir in 2019, Wagner has sided with the Sudanese government against South Sudan.
It is currently estimated that there are about 300 Wagner mercenaries in Sudan.
Mozambique: Wagner’s challenge
In Mozambique, Wagner’s mercenaries have been active since 2018, especially under the pretext of fighting Daesh. Unlike other countries, Mozambique is known to be a challenge for Wagner as it has heavy rains and wild forests that have caused at least 10 mercenaries. It is currently estimated that there are about 160-300 Russian mercenaries in Mozambique.
Wagner has reportedly invested $ 60 billion in the country in an effort to take advantage of natural gas resources. In Mozambique’s policy, some of the political parties accuse Wagner’s Russian mercenaries of launching sabotage activities, a claim that was strongly denied by the Kremlin.
Many kennels claim that such activities are part of the Kremlin’s geostrategic vision in Africa.
Back in August 2020, a secret report from the German Foreign Ministry claimed that Russia was planning to intensify its military cooperation with African countries as part of its new Africa strategy, including building bases in six countries. The classified document on what it calls “Russia’s new Africa ambitions” says Putin had made “Africa a top priority.”
In addition, it stated that the Kremlin was “in agreement” that it would “be allowed to build military bases in six countries”, namely CAR, Egypt, Eritrea, Madagascar, Mozambique and Sudan. But Russia is not only aiming for a permanent deployment of its troops in Africa, but is increasingly relying on private armies or proxy groups such as the Wagner group, the report said.
Russia is already a major arms supplier to the African continent.
With a market share of 37.6%, Russia is the leading arms supplier to Africa, followed by the United States with 16%, France with 14% and China with 9%.
Algeria is reportedly still the largest recipient of Russian weapons in Africa, followed by Egypt, Sudan and Angola.
.
