Private military and security companies have come to play a pivotal role in materializing the agendas and goals of international powers in areas of influence to maximize their strategic interests. With the multiplicity of the roles played by those companies, they have been increasingly relied upon by some African rulers over the last decade. This has led to expanding their role in African countries and increasing their political, economic and military influence.
While the Russian strategy towards Africa rests on the security dimension in light of the security challenges experienced by most African countries, the role of Wagner Group in Africa is on the rise and has been developing noticeably. While this enhances the Russian role in the continent, it equally drives towards a new stage of the militarization of the African continent and intensified international competition and the impact thereof on Africa’s future in light of the predicted expansion of the activity of such companies moving forward.
The nature of the role and tasks
Deployment map and concentration points in Africa
Implications for the Russian role in Africa
African and international positions
African position: there is an acceptance by some African leaders of this type of support provided by Wagner to establish their authority and suppress any insurgency or opposition movements as was the case during the rule of al-Bashir regime.[40] Furthermore, some governments use it to counter terrorist organizations in light of the poor capabilities of African military armies. Due to its political influence and cheap prices compared to its African counterparts, Wagner is given precedence by some African countries such as Mozambique.[41]
United States of America: Washington ranks Wagner second after terrorist organizations as a threat to its interests in the African continent.[42] The US had imposed sanctions on Wagner in 2017 because it took part in the fighting in eastern Ukraine on the side of separatists backed by Moscow.[43]
France: France warns against the increasing Russian military presence in African countries as it contributes to fuelling tensions and conflicts, as in the case of the Central African Republic. In January 2019, Paris accused Wagner of promoting an anti-French rhetoric in the Central African Republic and the Sahel-Sahara region.[44]
The impact of Wagner’s presence on the security and stability of African countries
Future of Wagner’s influence in Africa
-----------
[1] Nathaniel Reynolds, Putin’s Not-So-Secret Mercenaries: Patronage, Geopolitics, and the Wagner Group, Washington: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, July 2019, PP. 10-20.
[2] Irina Malkova, Anton Baev, A Private Army for the President: The Tale of Evgeny Prigozhin’s Most Delicate Mission, The Bell, 31 January 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2XuMSH3
[3] Alex Kassidiaris, The Wagner Group Paradox, Inside Over, 27 December 2019, Available at: https://bit.ly/2Xb5KMb
[4] Gabriella Gricius, Russia’s Wagner Group Quietly Moves into Africa, Russia: Riddle, 11 March 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/3dfEdyM
[5] Irina Malkova, Ibid.
[6] Daily Maverick, Russia’s shadow presence in Africa: Wagner group mercenaries in at least 20 countries aim to turn continent into strategic hub, 15 November 2019, Available at: https://bit.ly/36w3UbM
[7] Pjotr Sauer, In Push for Africa, Russia's Wagner Mercenaries Are 'Out of Their Depth' in Mozambique, The Moscow Times, 19 November 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/3daY5D0
[8] Idem.
[9] Daily Maverick, Ibid.
[10] Alex Kassidiaris, Ibid.
[11] Gabriella Gricius, Ibid.
[12] Sean Crowley, Wagner in the C.A.R: who blesses the Russian mercenaries down in Africa?, Foreign Policy Research Institute, 27 July 2018, available at: https://bit.ly/36Lv1jm
[13] Joseph Dana, Russia’s growing influence in Africa, Asia Times, 2 December 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2A73X1M
[14] Daily Maverick, Ibid.
[15] Business Day, How hard is it for entities such as the Wagner Group to sow destabilisation in SA?, 11 December 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2X6LxHi
[16] Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Evidence of Russia-Linked Influence Operations in Africa, 30 October 2019, available at: https://stanford.io/36Ddtpn
[17] Daragh McDowell, Minerals for mercenaries – Russia prioritises profits over long-term influence in Africa, Verisk Maplecroft, 3 February 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/2ZM0zEm
[18] Sergey Sukhankin, Making War Profitable Again: PMCs as Russia’s “Key” to Africa, Estonia: International Centre for Defence and Security, 17 August 2018, available at: https://bit.ly/2yIvTsq
[19] Aaron Ross, How Russia moved into Central Africa, Reuters, 17 October 2018, available at: https://bit.ly/3er8fzU
[20] Daily Maverick, Ibid.
[21] Daragh McDowell, Ibid.
[22] AR Global Security, The Wagner Group: An In-Depth Look, available at: https://bit.ly/3esqwN1
[23] Daily Maverick, Ibid.
[24] Joséphine Dedet, Russia-Africa: Putin’s continental strategy, The Africa Report, 19 August 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2M727R3
[25] Daily Maverick, Ibid.
[26] Irina Malkova, Ibid.
[27] Sean Crowley, Ibid.
[28] Tarek Megerisi, Geostrategic Dimensions of Libya’s Civil War, Washington, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, 18 May 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/2yzgQ43
[29] Gabriella Gricius, Ibid.
[30] Daily Maverick, Ibid.
[31] Daily Maverick, Exclusive: Advance into Africa - an audit of Russia’s growing economic and military footprint on the continent, 15 November 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2TXEwH5
[32] Ilya Rozhdestvensky, How Russia interfered in elections in twenty countries, Npoekt, 11 April 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2B9Mw11
[33] Daily Maverick, Russia’s shadow presence in Africa: …, Ibid.
[34] Idem.
[35] Business Day, Ibid.
[36] Leslie Minney (and Others), Amid the Central African Republic’s search for peace, Russia steps in. Is China next?, Washington, United States Institute of Peace, 19 December 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2X5bMhf
[37] Luke Harding, Jason Burke, Leaked documents reveal Russian effort to exert influence in Africa, The Guardian, 11 June 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2M7724q
[38] ANDRÁS RÁCZ, African Comeback, Berlin Policy Journal, 11 March 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/2Xte5K6
[39] Joseph Dana, Ibid.
[40] Wagner group spotted. Russia using mercenaries to gain access to African resources – US DoD, Belsat, 8 February 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/3d7jCN0
[41] Steve Balestrieri, WAGNER GROUP: RUSSIAN MERCENARIES STILL FLOUNDERING IN AFRICA, SOFREP Military Grade Content, 19 April 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/2BeUplX
[42] Ed Reed, Insurgents shoot down helicopter in Mozambique, Energy Voice, 24 April 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3c41ySx
[43] Romina Mcguinness, France WARNING: Russian mercenaries PLOTTING in Africa - ‘We know you!’, 25 January 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2AgrOfd
[44] Eric Schmitt and Thomas Gibbons-Neff, Russia Exerts Growing Influence in Africa, Worrying Many in the West, The New York Times, 28 January 2020, available at: https://nyti.ms/36Faf4B
[45] AR Global Security, Ibid.
[46] Romina Mcguinness, Ibid.
EPC | 12 Jan 2021
EPC | 11 Jan 2021