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OPINION JULY 14, 2023 | The Indian Eye 11

leaders like Central African Repub-
lic’s (CAR) President Faustin-Arch-
ange Touadéra, who owes his sur-
vival to Wagner mercenaries. These
mercenaries act as bodyguards and
provide security to African political
elites at the “request” for security
assistance of such governments like
CAR and Mali. In Mali, Wagner has
replaced France as its preferred se-
curity partner and in recent days has
also engineered the departure of the
United Nations peacekeeping force,
known as United Nations Multidi-
mensional Integrated Stabilization
Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), to
further its own interests.
Till now, the Russian govern-
ment kept Wagner at an arm’s length
due to the group’s alleged commit-
tal of widespread atrocities and
human-rights violations. However,
recent statements from Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and
President Putin point towards the
group ostensibly being on the Rus-
sian government’s payroll.
Lavrov remarked that the Wag-
ner Group, which he referred to as a
‘Private Military Company’ (PMC),
would continue operations in Mali
and the CAR, where Wagner oper-
atives, “are working there as instruc-
tors”. He insisted that the security
vacuum created by Europe, in par- Although Wagner has diversified sources of funds beyond Moscow, it is heavily dependent on the Russian state
ticular France’s withdrawal from the
Sahel region, had forced Mali and for logistical support (File photo)
CAR to turn towards Russia and
Wagner to ensure the security of GOING FORWARD military bases and aircrafts are con- with Russia. With a massive down-
their leaders. stantly used by Wagner operatives to grade in European presence in the
On the other hand, Putin sur- rigozhin’s rebellion has cast transport both arms and personnel. Sahel in recent years, any Russian
prisingly admitted that the Russian serious reservations about the Without the timely delivery of mili- withdrawal too could be seriously
state had “completely financed” Pfuture of Wagner in Africa, tary equipment, Wagner will find it exploited by non-state actors. Going
Wagner in Africa to the tune of and by extension, Russia’s influence difficult to operate in the long run. forward, African countries that are
around US$ 1 billion annually. Such on the continent. The African states Furthermore, the future of the reliant on Wagner could be more
sums of money were readily available that have turned towards Wagner for Wagner’s structure or what its lead- cautious in their engagement with
to Prigozhin due to his large network security assistance now find them- ership will look like remains to be Russia. The deliberations and out-
of resource exploitation across Afri- selves worrying about their security decided. Not only is Prigozhin in ex- comes of the forthcoming Second
ca and beyond. The source of the architecture. ile in Belarus, but thousands of his Russia–Africa summit in St. Peters-
money which was used to fuel Wag- Wagner’s mutiny could result mercenaries are being forced to join burg on 27–28 July 2023 will perhaps
ner operations came not only from in armed rebellion in African coun- the Russian military. The fact that better indicate the likely contours
Moscow, but also from several natu- tries in which they operate, thereby these operatives have run an exten- and the future trajectory of Russia–
ral resource concessions. increasing the potential of human sive web of operations across various Africa relations.
In countries like CAR, Wagner rights abuses and impunity. More- African subsidiaries and shell com-
has developed a self-financing “busi- over, it could also lead to insub- panies will make it difficult for the Dr Abhishek Mishra is an Associate
ness model” which involves control ordination of military authorities. Kremlin to replace them. It is most Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Insti-
of diamond and gold mines along Non-state armed groups in African likely that Wagner would continue tute for Defense Studies and Analyses,
with military muscle. Consequently, countries could draw cue from the their operations in African states, New Delhi
the U.S. Department of the Trea- Wagner and become unaccountable albeit under a new name and a new Views expressed are of the author and
sury’s Office of Foreign Assets Con- to the military. The fact that Wagner management. Another possibility is do not necessarily reflect the views of
trol (OFAC) has sanctioned CAR- is so deeply enmeshed in certain Af- for Wagner’s operations in Africa to the Manohar Parrikar IDSA or of the
based mining companies like Midas rican countries like the CAR where be taken over by new private military Government of India.
Resources SARLU and Diamville its mercenaries permeate all levels companies, such as the one run by
SAU. President Putin’s claim has makes it difficult to be replaced. Gazprom, Russia’s energy giant. This article first appeared in the Com-
now effectively made the Russian Although Wagner has diversified Although Wagner is going to ments section of the website (www.
state responsible for all of Wagner’s sources of funds beyond Moscow, it continue its operations in Africa, the idsa.in) of Manohar Parrikar Institute
actions, including its human-rights is heavily dependent on the Russian entire debacle could compel African for Defense Studies and Analyses, New
violations and atrocities. state for logistical support. Russian countries to revisit how they engage Delhi on July 5, 2023

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