Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, died in a plane crash on August 23, 2023.
A Brief History of Military Coups in Africa since 2020
Read: How Wagner’s Mutiny Will Affect African Politics
Sudan (October 2021)
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), seized the country’s government during a period of transitional government.
Can BRICS Challenge the Global Political System?
and EU support, Russia is less and less likely to bring the war in Ukraine to its desired conclusion, suffering huge military and economic losses, on the one hand, and internal instability on the other, as the Wagner mutiny demonstrated.
Coup in Niger: What Is In Store for West Africa?
On the other hand, the presence of Russia's Wagner Group, which provides relative security, leads to the appearance of Russian flags in Niger and increased Russian influence in the region.
The World Reacts to Military Coup in Niger
” Russia’s Wagner boss has publicly called the coup “good news” and has offered his fighter’s military power to aid the success of General Tchiani.
How Leaked Pentagon Documents Target Egypt, Turkey, and Israel
Leaks about Turkey suggest that the Wagner militia wants to purchase weapons from Ankara.
A Civil War Unfolding in Sudan?
Moreover, to make matters more complicated, the Russian paramilitary group Wagner has joined the illicit mining and exporting of Sudanese gold.
NATO vs. Russia: A War to Win Mauritania’s Heart?
Russia has a strong presence in Mali now represented through the Wagner forces which contribute to maintaining its interests and providing security services to the Malian government.
How China, Russia and the US Compete Over Control in Africa
Read: Wagner Group Strengthens Its Hold in Africa
Africa wants quick wins
What African countries want most are large investments that can get off the ground quickly.
Russia’s War in Ukraine Gives Iran the Upper Hand in Syria
Some Wagner units, who are Russian mercenaries and were deployed in Libya and Syria, have reportedly started withdrawing.
Libya’s Political Atmosphere Is a Gordian Knot
Read: Libyans Themselves Are Best Suited to Handle Their ProblemsWith its military existence in Syria, Moscow found a door to knock on: it sent infamous Wagner mercenaries in support of Haftar and built another passage for itself between Sirte and Jufra, critical spots in Libya neighboring the Eastern Mediterranean.
Foreign Fighters Arrive in Scores to Fight in Ukraine
Russia has previously used the private military company Wagner Group in Syria, Crimea, and Libya.
The Urge to Kill to Survive: Russia’s Imperialist Expansionism Explained
Read: Iran’s Bitter Choice and the Russia-Ukraine WarSecond, Russian private military companies such as the Wagner Group are sent to war zones to support pro-Russian figures such as Khalifa Haftar of Libya and attempt to encircle NATO for strategic leverage such as the Russian military presence in Africa.
How Intelligence Agencies Turned into Foreign Policy Tools
On the other hand, Russian intelligence services have been active in this field in recent years through the private intelligence company Wagner.
Russian Brinkmanship in Ukraine
Now the question is “Will Russia invade Ukraine?”
How to Read Russian Expansionism in Africa
Russia's private military company Wagner, which supports Khalifa Haftar's forces, plays a critical role in the civil war in Libya.
What the Return of Mercenaries Means for the World Politics
This was the Wagner Group, a high-end mercenary outfit with artillery, armored personnel carriers, and tanks.
Where Does Libya Fit in Biden’s Foreign Policy Priorities?
Policy in Libya
The Biden administration’s foreign policy in Libya is focused on counterterrorism and Russia’s growing role there via the presence of mercenaries like the Wagner Group, as well as supporting the new Government of National Unity (GNU) and their mission to hold free and fair elections in December 2021.
Government of National Unity: Where Does Libya Go from Here?
Given it implausibly insists on Private Military Company Wagner’s independence from Moscow, it is expected to keep working both sides.
Has the Libyan Civil War Come to an End?
President Trump was even more nonchalant, particularly given his indulgence to Middle Eastern autocracies, until Russia's Wagner Group mercenaries started showing up.