The brief rebellion led against the Kremlin by the head of the Wagner mercenary forces in Russia last week was un expected.
This was no less true in Africa, where some countries have, over the last decade, turned to the Wagner group for security support.
Wagner has been operating in over a dozen countries in Africa.
In Mali, the state opted to partner with it for security provision. This was prompted by heightened insecurity, diplomatic rows with the peace-keeping mission and the ejection of foreign counter-insurgency forces.
In the Central African Republic (CAR), the mercenaries reportedly started operating in 2018. This was after the government and Moscow agreed to exchange Russian military support and weapons for mining concessions.
In late 2020, CAR’s security situation deteriorated ahead of general elections. Wagner’s role switched from support and training to combat.
In 2019 Wagner fighters were deployed to Mozambique to help contain Islamist militants operating in the northern Cabo Delgado province.
From The Shadows Emerges Knowledge