The Wagner Group, Russia’s armed wing abroad

2023-06-26 11:06:22

For years, the paramilitary group Wagner has been considered Moscow’s armed wing abroad, notably in Syria and several African countries. A status now called into question by the slingshot led by its leader.

At the end of a spectacular mutiny which brought him less than 400 kilometers from Moscow before giving up, Evguéni Prigojine must in principle go into exile in Belarus, an ally of Moscow, and redraw new relations with President Vladimir Putin.

“Greatest Effects” of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s rebellion “could be felt in the Middle East and Africa”estimates on Twitter Rob Lee, of the Foreign Policy research Institute, stressing that a “short-term compromise” is different from a “long term solution”.

What about its operations in these outer theaters, where the private militia excels in local wealth exploitation, government protection, information warfare, war crimes and brutal military operations?

► In Syria

In Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH), Wagner’s mercenaries – Russians, from the former USSR and Syrians – acted as ” special forces “ in the field alongside the Kremlin army from 2015.

In 2016 and 2017, Wagner distinguished himself by fighting Daesh in Palmyra. In February 2018, American bombardments caused several dozen, even several hundred deaths in the ranks of the group during the battle of Khoucham.

The mercenaries are present today, in smaller numbers, near the oil wells as well as in the provinces of Hama and Latakia (center-west). Following their victories, they had indeed obtained 25% of the operating profits of the wells reconquered from the Islamic State.

► In Africa

In Africa, the group’s mercenaries have been identified in particular in Libya, Sudan and Mozambique. They are on the front line in Mali, although the junta denies this, citing instead “Russian instructors”as well as in the Central African Republic, where a Wagner executive manages the security of President Faustin-Archange Touadera.

Emmanuel Macron accused Russia of being “a power to destabilize Africa, through private militias who come to predate and extort civilian populations”a direct reference to the activities of the Wagner group on the continent.

In Mali, Wagner is taking advantage of the void left by the withdrawal of French troops decided in June 2021. According to Paris, his mercenaries are established in the country from December. Bamako is accused by Westerners of having called on this private military group to continue the fight against armed Islamist groups.

Mali officially denies the presence of the group in the country, saying that the Russian elements present belong to the regular army of Moscow. Vladimir Poutine however recognized the presence of Wagner on the Malian territory.

In the Central African Republic, the United Nations independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic accused the army and its Russian allies of abuses in February. The European Union then announced new sanctions against Wagner, targeting several of his senior officials in the country.

The group’s arrival in the country dates back to 2018. Wagner then participated in the training of the Central African army and set up bases in the country, particularly in areas rich in diamonds. In 2020, the mercenaries engage alongside local soldiers and a United Nations mission against rebels seeking to prevent the holding of the presidential election.

► Venezuela

Wagner Group mercenaries were implicated in Venezuela in 2019, where they were assigned to protect President Nicolás Maduro. He was then facing popular protest following his re-election after an electoral process considered fraudulent.