Wagner Group's Grip Tightens in Africa: Military Support, Resource Deals, and Violence
Junta Align With PMC Group
Overt Operator
August 09, 2023
The Russian-backed Wagner Group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, is escalating its influence in West and Central Africa, engaging in military support, training, and brutal tactics, in exchange for access to mineral wealth.
A recent report from ACLED highlights Wagner's activities across the region, including targeting civilians and controlling resources like gold and diamonds.
In Mali, Wagner has been involved in nearly 300 incidents of political violence between December 2021 and June 2023, and the group is reportedly receiving $10 million monthly from Mali's transitional government.
Wagner’s tactics have been described as brutal, with the UN highlighting a massacre involving over 500 civilians. The group's ambitions are also seen in Chad, where they are recruiting and training rebels. The combination of Wagner's financial and political engagements ensures the group's enduring influence, raising grave concerns about the region's stability and human rights.