In a news conference held on Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed concerns regarding the future of contracts signed between several African countries and the controversial Wagner mercenary group. Lavrov stated that the fate of these agreements rested solely with the governments that had entered into such contracts.
Lavrov acknowledged that Wagner had been active in the Central African Republic (CAR) and other countries based on contracts directly negotiated with the respective governments. Additionally, he revealed that Russia's defense ministry had deployed a substantial number of military advisors in the CAR for an extended period.
Wagner mercenaries, known for their involvement in the Ukraine conflict, recently sparked speculation after staging a brief mutiny last Saturday. They temporarily seized control of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and even marched towards Moscow before a swift resolution halted their revolt.
The incident has prompted questions regarding the status of Wagner operatives in the CAR and other African nations, as well as the extent of Moscow's involvement in the group's activities on the continent. On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Wagner was "fully financed" by the state, disclosing that approximately 86 billion rubles (equivalent to $940 million) had been disbursed to the group between May 2022 and May 2023. Regarding Mali, Putin clarified that Russian forces in the country were not Wagner mercenaries but rather trainers assisting local troops with equipment obtained from Russia.
Wagner mercenaries have faced severe criticism for alleged human rights abuses, including a notable incident in March 2022 in Moura, central Mali, where it was reported that local troops and suspected Russian fighters had killed hundreds of civilians.
The repercussions of the Wagner mercenaries' actions have extended beyond Mali. In neighboring Mauritania, thousands of Malians have sought refuge in the M'bera camp since 2021, as confirmed by United Nations officials managing the camp. Disturbingly, between March and April 2022 alone, nearly 7,000 new arrivals were registered.
French President Emmanuel Macron, in February, condemned the deployment of Wagner troops in Africa, referring to it as the "life insurance of failing regimes in Africa" that would only perpetuate suffering and distress