WAGNER GROUP

1. Context

2. What is the Wagner Group?

• The Wagner group is a Russian paramilitary organization headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin.
• Though it has been reportedly engaged in counter-militancy operations in Africa, its involvement is believed to have a more extensive scope covering political, economic, and military fields.
• There have also been reports of the group supplying arms and weapons, and training regional forces in fighting jihadist threats.
• Despite its involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war, the Wagner group’s presence in Africa has continued.
• By siding with the domestic actors in a civil war situation, the group’s actions have impacted the democratic process in Africa.
• Additionally, the West has been raising concerns over human rights violations and abuse of civilians related to the Wagner group’s presence in Africa.

3. How active is the Wagner Group in Africa?

• The Wagner group has been active in Sudan, Mali, the Central African Republic, Mozambique, and Libya in Africa.
• The activities are related to providing direct support to authoritarian governments, supporting rival leadership engaged in internal wars, filling the void created by the withdrawal of the French military engagement, taking part in resource exploitation, etc.
• The Wagner group presents itself as a security provider to a few governments, mostly authoritarian ones in Africa.
• It has also been supporting rival leaders engaged in a civil war. 

Image Source: The Hindu

4. Wagner Group ties with Sudan

• The primary goal of the group is to gain access to natural resources.
• The Wagner group’s presence and moves make up one of the strategies to achieve this objective for the country.
• Secondly, Russia sees the Wagner group as an instrument of diplomacy in Africa.
• The Russian strategy in Africa comes with minimal cost economically but with heavy political returns.
• Moscow secured 15 abstentions from African countries in the UN’s resolution condemning its aggression in Ukraine.
• Moreover, Eritrea and Mali sided with Russia voting against the resolution.
• And finally, Russia’s access to African mineral deposits is believed to be providing crucial financial support to continue the war in Ukraine.
• For Russia, strong ties with African countries mean a pipeline of influence for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

7. Implications of Africa 

• For African countries, increasing dependency on Wagner mercenaries implies more violence, intimidation, and uncertainties. 
• The group posits a threat to democratic governance in Africa.
• The collapse of relations between the West and Sahel countries, especially Mali and Burkina Faso, paved the way for Russia to position itself as an alternative.
• In time, Russian gained leverage in Africa through its assistance without conditionalities.
• However, deepening relations between African leaders and Russian mercenaries pose a significant threat to democratic values.
• Increasing trends among African governments seeking Russian mercenary assistance for mounting security concerns indicate increasing authoritarian footprints across the continent.

8. Status of Wager Group in the World and Inside Russia

• According to the UN’s International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing, and Training of Mercenaries, the states should bear the responsibility for the activities of the mercenaries who violate principles of international law which threaten sovereign equality, political independence, territorial integrity of states and self-determination of people.
• Legally, Wagner is not a Russia-based private military company though it works closely with the Russian security apparatus. Private mercenary groups are illegal in Russia and Inside Russia