In the wake of a brief mutiny within the Wagner Group in Russia, business continues undeterred for the notorious mercenary organization in Africa, despite the internal unrest experienced by their comrades in Russia.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin and his propagandists work tirelessly to downplay the episode and promote a narrative of national unity prevailing over polarization, the Russian Foreign Ministry has embarked on a media campaign, reaching out to Wagner Group clients in Syria and Africa to assure them that operations will carry on under direct Kremlin supervision.
Following the clashes, approximately 6,000 Wagner Group forces stationed in Africa have remained steadfast in their activities, largely unaffected by the turbulence witnessed within their ranks in Russia. The All Eyes On Wagner (AEOW) project, responsible for monitoring the group’s operations, reports that thus far, no significant changes have been observed in the region, aside from unverified rumors of movements in Libya. “Our contacts on the ground indicate that it is business as usual in Mali and the Central African Republic.”
Originally established in 2014 to ensure Russia’s indirect involvement in the conflict with Ukraine’s Donbas region, the Wagner Group expanded its sphere of operations to Syria. There, the mercenary outfit fought against the Islamic State on behalf of the Bashar Assad regime, which reciprocated by granting the group access to liberated oil fields. In 2017, the Wagner Group arrived in Africa, deploying a 500-strong force to Sudan at the request of then-President Omar al-Bashir to suppress protests against his rule. In exchange for their services, Commander Yevgeny Prigozhin was awarded exclusive mining rights for gold—a valuable consideration reminiscent of the arrangement with Assad in Syria.
Despite the recent upheaval faced by the Wagner Group in Russia, the mercenaries’ activities in Africa proceed unhampered, as their presence and operations remain largely under the radar. As Putin’s administration works diligently to control the narrative surrounding the mutiny, the organization’s African exploits continue to play out, driven by its expansionist agenda and the pursuit of strategic gains on the continent.
SKJ