The Wagner Group Is In Africa - An Unholy Alliance

Richard S. Dunn – June 30, 2023

The Media Hypocrisy On The Wagner Group

The corporate media and some “independent” media organizations are frothing at the mouth about the Wagner Group’s fiasco last week in Russia, and the perceived threat to the Presidency of Vladimir Putin. The media as a collective and some politicians including the President of the United States Joe Biden, are gloating that their wish for regime change in Russia, seems to be coming to fruition; however, the attempted and misguided coup led by the ambitious Yevgeny Prigozhin, was promptly taken under control by the Kremlin. Lamenting on the involvement of the Wagner Group in Ukraine, the media barely mentions a word on the atrocities and “crimes against humanity” carried out across Africa by this same Group; some have even suggested with the knowledge of the Kremlin.

The NATO inspired proxy war in Ukraine is unfortunate and could have been avoided, had not the United States and its NATO allies, engage in warmongering and provocative rhetoric and activities respectively where Russia is concerned. At the same time whilst we are encouraged to shed “crocodile” tears and wring our hands in grief about the plight of Ukraine; no such consideration is offered or even suggested, when it comes to the Continent of Africa and the apparent role of the government of Russia under Vladimir Putin. The reporting is blatant hypocrisy, political opportunism and downright racist; we should all mourn over white lives but Black lives are incidental.

A Case of Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing ?

Back in the 70’s we used to speak about “the carrot and the stick” referring to a US Foreign Policy tactic, granting aid and philanthropic gestures, while at the same time the CIA was rampant in destabilization and overthrow activities. The natural resources of countries were “raped” and plundered by multinationals, supported by reactionary and oppressive regimes. Russia has supposedly forgiven Africa’s external debts; at the same time mercenaries from within its borders are devasting some African countries, to maintain and control economic and political influence, in the interest of multinational corporations. On Monday March 20, 2023 Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia will write off upwards of $20 Billion of debts owed by some African countries. This announcement was made at the International Parliamentary Conference “Russia – Africa in a Multipolar World” held in Moscow. At the meeting, the Russian President expressed optimism that the bilateral Trade Agreements with Africa will increase, providing benefits to both parties.

At the same time, Russia’s increased presence on the Continent of Africa cannot be ignored, especially in military equipment and operations by the Wagner group. The Wagner mercenaries have been involved in the conflict in Syria; in the Central African Republic, there are documented incidents of rape, torture, the killing of civilians and the forced recruitment of child soldiers; in Libya there are reports of civilian homes being boobytrapped, as part of their intimidation and coercive tactics, to support a local drug Lord. Human Rights Watch have reported that between 800 and 1,200 Wagner personnel are engaged in atrocities, including the placing of landmines that have killed numerous numbers of civilians, in the suburbs of Tripoli. The regime of Mali have contracted with the Wagner mercenaries, to fight the opposition forces; in March of 2022 they used helicopters to capture a number of civilians. In the city of Moura, the death toll according to Human Rights Watch was between 300 and 400 civilians.

The Wagner mercenaries are also operating in the Central African Republic, where they are extensively deployed in the areas, where there are large diamond mines; they also operate in Mozambique, Sudan, Rwanda, and reports are that they were engaged militarily in Burkina Faso. It is clear that Russian involvement in Africa has increased over several years, and with the debt forgiveness announcement, has the potential to increase even further. Some economic watchdogs have reported that in 2019, Russia’s trade with Africa had reached $20 Billion; most of it from the export of oil and gas, and investments in infrastructure.

The Pitfalls of Foreign Intervention

In the first instance, there should be no foreign military or paramilitary group on African soil; secondly the invitation by these despotic regimes that do so is tantamount to treason, and a trampling of the democratic rights of their own people. One of the features of the new global situation is the competition for “spheres of influence,”  and the protagonists are none the less Russia, China, and the United States. All want a piece of Africa by any means necessary. The Berlin Conference of 1884 divided the African Continent among the imperialist powers; the National Liberation Movements of the 60’s and 70’s erased and slowed down the expansion of this division. With the current crisis of world capitalism and the continued erosion of United States’ economic and political hegemony, the drive to secure materials and markets take a new method.

The recent Wagner Group fiasco in Russia, is a perfect example why the use of foreign militias in Africa is a “brain dead” policy. Such an action severely limits the respective State from controlling and enforcing rules of conduct guidelines on such groups. They are not obligated and most often do not accept accountability for the atrocities they carry out against civilians; in the worst case, they cannot be taken to court because they’re not registered as a company and is a totally independent group. The presence of mercenaries worsens the situation where there is armed conflict within the respective country between the government and opposition forces; this has the potential of turning any liberation struggle into a protracted war, resulting in numerous loss of innocent civilian lives.

Recolonization by Invitation

The most egregious pitfall of the use of mercenaries by these tyrant regimes, is the entrenchment and deepening exploitation of the country’s natural resources by multinational corporations. This does not benefit the host country but further enrich a corrupt government and the local oligarchy, thereby plunging the masses into further poverty, social dislocation, and socio-economic destruction. The other side of this is, such a policy is totally opposite to self-determination and independence, and seriously undermines any development and strengthening of national sovereignty. Increased weaponization of countries add to instability and chaos; Afghanistan, Sudan, and Libya are two stark examples.

Economic reports have commented that the Wagner Group’s revenues have increased significantly as a result of their presence and operations in Africa. According to an extensive report on May 31, 2022 in the New York Times, these forces “ally with embattled political and military leaders who can pay for their services in cash, or with lucrative mining concessions for precious minerals like gold, diamonds, and uranium.” It is beyond time that the African Union (AU) as a continental body fulfill its mandate to defend and protect the integrity, socio-economic and political development of its member States. The AU was un-hesitant to admit the apartheid and genocidal State of Israel as an Observer; but the AU have become lethargic and suffers from “political laryngitis” to definitively address foreign troops presence in Africa. This action is tantamount to accepting colonialization under a different form.

  Richard Dunn can be contacted at: contact@makingitplain.net