Soukaina Sghir
The demise of Wagner Group’s leader, Evgueni Prigozhin, who was at the center of a June rebellion against the Kremlin, along with his deputy and eight other passengers, in a private plane crash on August 23, 2023, northwest of Moscow, as reported by the Russian air transport agency and a ministry, raises questions about the paramilitary group’s future in Africa, where it has established a significant presence across several nations.
The narrative of the Russian paramilitary entity, Wagner Group, is intricately interwoven with Evgueni Prigozhin’s persona, his commanding influence, and the intricate financial framework he constructed, as emphasized by our correspondent in Chad, Carol Valade. Collaborating with Clément Di Roma, Valade co-authored the documentary “Central African Republic: The Russian Soft Power.”
Presently, Wagner’s networks are deeply entrenched in Africa. Its operatives possess profound local knowledge and have positioned themselves as indispensable actors to both governments, acting as a form of life insurance, and the Kremlin, enhancing Russia’s influence on the continent with cost-effective measures.
The news of Prigozhin’s impending death was particularly poignant in Mali, where Wagner’s paramilitary activities have seen recent expansion. Our regional correspondent, Serge Daniel, reported that Wagner fighters observed a moment of silence in several southern and central localities of the country.
Within power corridors, though, speculation has arisen about the group’s future. While immediate upheavals might be unlikely, there’s speculation about potential name changes, as some ponder whether a shift in leadership might be on the horizon.
According to the U.S. Department of State, Mali reportedly pays around 10 million euros per month to Wagner Group in exchange for its presence on the ground. As long as this agreement holds, there may be no immediate disruptions.
In Mali, following the reported death of Prigozhin, the Kremlin could swiftly reassert control by introducing a new point of contact within Wagner to the Malian government. Meanwhile, Malian authorities have consistently asserted that they work with Russian instructors, not the paramilitary organization.
As the fate of Wagner Group in Africa hangs in the balance, international attention remains focused on how this evolving situation could reshape the dynamics of Russia’s involvement on the continent.
English
Español
Deutsch
Français
العربية