Wagner Group is a destabilising force; please kick it out of Africa

Former Russian mercenary and Wagner leader the late Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The Wagner Group is a private military company (PMC) with operations in Africa that was tied to the late Russian mercenary Yevgeny Prigozhin. The PMC have been deployed by various African governments to offer security including in Central African Republic (CAR), Sudan, Libya, and Mozambique but have proved to be ineffective and corrupt. They have failed to improve the security of everyday people but have amassed wealth from these countries for their benefit.

Wagner is accused of being utilised by the Kremlin to circumvent Western sanctions after the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. As a PMC, Wagner operates outside the official structures of the Russian military, providing a level of deniability for the Russian government. It has been used to undertake activities abroad that align with Russia's strategic interests while maintaining plausible deniability regarding its direct involvement. By doing so, the Kremlin evade the direct attribution of these activities to the Russian state, thus evading further sanctions or international repercussions.

Africa, in this context, has emerged as a theatre of interest for the Wagner Group's operations. Wagner's involvement in various African countries, such as the CAR, Sudan, Libya, and Mozambique, coincides with areas where the Kremlin has geopolitical interests. These countries all have two things in common: Rich mineral resources and continuous conflict pitting the government and rebel forces. Wagner's activities in Africa have been controversial and secretive, with allegations of supporting governments through providing security, training their local forces and engaging in combat missions. In doing this, it serves Russian interests by proxy.

Wagner's operations in Africa have led to severely detrimental outcomes. There have been reports of grave human rights violations and abuses connected to its operations in African countries. The most notable report, by the United Nation and its Multidimensional Integrated Mission in CAR, details a massacre in Boyo Village in 2021. The report highlights Wagner's involved in the massacre that resulted in the death of at least 20 civilians in the week-long attack, the rape of women and girls, the burning down and looting of 547 houses that effectively forced thousands to flee.

The report concluded that the group's action constituted war crimes and crimes against humanity. Wagner's actions resonate with actions of a terrorist group and not of a security group as they have packaged themselves. Therefore, their involvement in Africa should no longer be entertained as they contribute further to Africa's instability and regress peace and stability initiatives these countries.

Meanwhile in Sudan, where in 2017 then president Omar al-Bashir finalised several substantial agreements with the Kremlin, Wagner also have significant economic operations. The official agreements included the establishment of a Russian naval base at Port Sudan, granting Russian access to the Red Sea, but on the sidelines, a gold mining contract was signed between M-Invest, a company owned by the late Prigozhin, and the Sudanese Ministry of Minerals, further highlighting Wagner's intent to extract wealth from the people of Africa.

Wagner also operates with a lack of transparency, making it challenging to hold them accountable for their actions. This opacity raises concerns about their activities and their impact on local populations. In Mali, Wagner forces have reportedly had their presence since December 2021, providing protection to the military junta that took power in 2020, and it has been alleged that they receive $10 million per month for their services. This figure annually supersedes some of the ministries' budget in the country.

Moreover, Wagner have been proved in some cases to be completely ineffective and only sow further chaos in already perilous environments. Wagner forces were deployed to Mozambique in 2019 to help fight the self-proclaimed Islamic State in northern Cabo Delgado Province. However, the group failed to contain the insurgency, had several members killed and argued with authorities before withdrawing from the area after a few months - despite having deployed 200 fighters.

Moreover, Wagner's engagement in conflicts has drawn widespread criticism for not just exacerbating but perpetuating existing conflicts. Their active involvement in regions such as the CAR, Sudan, Libya, and Mozambique has significantly heightened tensions, amplifying violence rather than alleviating it. Specifically, their participation in Libya, supporting Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army during the country's civil war, injected further complexity into an already volatile scenario, directly contributing to the conflict's escalation and garnering international scrutiny.

Additionally, their presence across the continent has acted as a catalyst for military coups, reigniting instability in areas where they operate. The recent coup in Niger, coinciding with Wagner's presence, starkly underscores their adverse impact on Africa. This unwelcome interference not only undermines progress but regresses the continent, posing an unwarranted and regressive influence that pushes African nations backward.

With substantial evidence pointing to Wagner's disruptive activities, it's time to reject their deceptive facade and acknowledge the danger they pose.