Russian mercenaries have been active in Africa and the Middle East for years. The Wagner revolt is now undermining Russian influence in the region.
Until now, fighters from the Wagner mercenary company have been instruments of Russian power politics in Africa and the Middle East: they have executed deserters in Syria and laid landmines in Libya. They fought for Moscow’s interests and committed crimes. But the Kremlin was able to distance itself because it was not part of the Russian army.
After the Wagner uprising at the weekend, this model is in question. Meanwhile, Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, confirmed the militia’s involvement in Africa. Wagner’s boss Yevgeny Prigozhin spoke on Monday in an eleven-minute audio message from Minsk and repeated his attacks on the Kremlin and the army. The clash has undermined Russia’s role in the region, where Wagner’s troops are deployed in a range of crisis states, from Syria to Libya, Sudan to the Central African Republic and Mali.
help for rebels
In Libya, Wagner’s troops are supporting rebel general Khalifa Haftar in his fight against the internationally recognized government in Tripoli. The Russian government is thus securing influence in Libya without having to send ground troops from its army. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt, which are also on Haftar’s side, also work with Wagner. For Haftar, Wagner’s experienced fighters are a welcome help.