Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

slide 3 of 2
THE BIZNOB – Global Business & Financial News – A Business Journal – Focus On Business Leaders, Technology – Enterpeneurship – Finance – Economy – Politics & LifestyleTHE BIZNOB – Global Business & Financial News – A Business Journal – Focus On Business Leaders, Technology – Enterpeneurship – Finance – Economy – Politics & Lifestyle

Breaking News

Breaking News

“Russian Mercenaries in Africa: A Closer Look at Wagner Group’s Strategic Rebranding

"Russian Mercenaries: A View at Wagner Group's Strategic
"Russian Mercenaries: A View at Wagner Group's Strategic

Listen to the article now

Russian Mercenaries in Africa

Russia is reportedly extending a “regime survival package” to African governments in exchange for access to strategically important natural resources, according to internal Russian government documents seen by the BBC. The documents also outline plans to alter mining laws in West Africa, aiming to displace Western companies from an area of strategic importance. This initiative is part of Russia’s process of taking control of the businesses of the Wagner mercenary group, which was disbanded after a failed coup in June 2023. The operations are now primarily managed by the Russian “Expeditionary Corps.”

The leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died in a plane crash after marching on Moscow, demanding the removal of the defense minister and head of the general staff, effectively threatening President Vladimir Putin. Subsequently, a meeting in the Kremlin decided that Wagner’s Africa operations would fall under the direct control of Russian military intelligence, the GRU, with Gen Andrey Averyanov, head of Unit 29155, specializing in targeting killings and destabilizing foreign governments, taking over.

Gen Averyanov and Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov embarked on a tour of former Wagner operations in Africa in early September. They visited Libya, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, and Mali, reassuring Wagner’s partners that Prigozhin’s demise did not end business deals. In Burkina Faso, cooperation was confirmed to continue in the military domain, including training Burkinabe officers in Russia.

The three West African states closely linked to Wagner—Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—have experienced military takeovers, leading them to withdraw from the regional bloc Ecowas and form their own “Alliance of Sahel States.” Russia’s military presence benefits these military juntas, enabling them to stay in power, and Mali is now largely dependent on Wagner for internal security.

Reports of human rights abuses involving Wagner forces have surfaced in Africa, adding to the controversies surrounding the group’s operations. The internal Russian memos suggest efforts to replicate the successes achieved in Mali in Niger, focusing on gaining control of West Africa’s uranium mines. The strategic significance lies in potentially exposing Europe to Russian “energy blackmail,” as a significant portion of France’s uranium is imported from Niger.

The Russian narrative frames Western states as fundamentally colonial, exploiting African nations. However, analysts point out the irony that Russia’s approach of isolating regimes, capturing elites, and extracting natural resources is reminiscent of colonial tactics. The “Expeditionary Corps” appears as an evolution of the Wagner Group, operating in the same countries with the same equipment and similar goals. The fundamental change lies in overtly pursuing Russia’s policy without the level of plausible deniability the Wagner Group provides. The “Expeditionary Corps” aims to exacerbate international crises, weaken Western powers, and create a less safe world. The impact may not be immediate but poses a long-term threat to global stability.


Comment Template

You May Also Like

Business

Russian court ordered Italian bank UniCredit to pay 448.2 million euros ($479.44 million) in a case over an unsuccessful gas project filed by St...

Business

Oil Prices Strengthened by US Inventory Figures, Russian Refinery Assaults On March 14th, in Beijing, oil prices continued their upward trend in Asian trading...

World

Air Strike in Ukraine Results in Dozens of Casualties Among Russian Troops At least 60 Russian troops are reported to have been killed in...

Finance

The Russian central bank needs months to ensure CPI falls before rate cuts. According to statements made by Elvira Nabiullina, the governor of the...

Notice: The Biznob uses cookies to provide necessary website functionality, improve your experience and analyze our traffic. By using our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Cookie Policy.

Ok