Philipp Sandner
Russia’s presence in Africa depends heavily on the Wagner Group, headed by Yevgeny Prighozin. But now there is uncertainty about the private military’s role after his apparent death in a plane crash in Russia.
News spread on Wednesday evening that a private jet carrying Wagner boss Prighozin had crashed
Image: AP Photo/picture alliance
Russia’s influence in Africa is intertwined with the mercenary activities of the Wagner Group in various countries, particularly in West and Central Africa. Next to China, Russia has become the main global player exerting its influence on the continent through aid and economic development, but also through trade and military cooperation.
But following reports that Wagner’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, might have died in a plane crash in Russia, many now wonder if military support from Russia in Africa will remain unchanged.
How could Wagner Group revolt impact Africa?
This monument of Russian soldiers was erected in CAR’s capital Bangui in honor of Russia’s security contributionImage: Barbara Debout/AFP
Business as usual in CAR
In an exclusive interview with DW, Fidele Gouandjika, an advisor to Central African Republic (CAR) President Faustin-Archange Touadera, said that bilateral relations between his country and Russia would remain the same.
“We have a defense agreement with Russia, and the paramilitarias who are with us will continue their work as before. They will find another chief,” he told DW.
“As for trade relations, we have a mining license, a brewery and a forestry license with the Russians. That will not change, even if Yevgeny Prigozhin is no longer there.”
However, not everyone shares this optimistic view: Since a comprehensive peace agreement was reached in CAR only in February 2019 after decades of civil war, the Wagner Group’s influence has extended even further. Wagner mercenaries have been in charge of protecting — and guiding — Touadera,whose advisors have long included a man with closer ties to Prigozhin.
CAR: A hostage of Wagner?
Former Communications Minister Adrien Poussou, who is also the author of the book “Africa Doesn’t Need Putin,” regards Wagner as practically pulling every string in the country now: “President Touadera is a hostage of Wagner, and he knows it,” Poussou told DW.
“So despite the aborted rebellion of the Wagner Group, the situation remains deadlocked until an even bigger power interferes in this dance.”
The CAR government has described the idea that it has lost control as “nonsense.”
Still, even more measured voices have expressed their concern over the extent of Wagner’s influence — with or without Prigozhin — in CAR: Paul Crescent Beninga, a civil society representative, says that the Wagner Group’s interference in CAR’s internal political affairs has now led to “a point where this undermines the ability of the Central African state to conduct its politics without pressure.”
“The Central African Republic is not profiting from these developments,” he added. “Rather, the winners are the Russians.”
Russia’s silence on the latest developments
Meanwhile, Moscow remains silent on the circumstances surrounding the plane crash. The Russian aviation authority claims that Wagner boss Prigozhin was on board and that all 10 occupants are believed dead.
But much is still unclear, including whether foul play was involved.
Before the Prigozhin’s attempted coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin in June, the Kremlin had praised Wagner’s activities in Africa, especially in Mali and the Central African Republic. Its operations were expected to continue and even expand.
Jean-Pierre Mara, a former lawmaker in the Central African Republic, said there was “no question” that Wagner would continue its operations in Africa, as this was also in Russia’s best interest.
Win-win relationship for Russia and Wagner
Russian historian Irina Filatova described Russia’s relationship with the Wagner Group in Africa as a “win-win situation,” with Wagner benefiting from Russia’s prestige and Russian weapons and Russia having preferential access to Africa’s natural resources.
“The relationship is very much like the pattern of European trading companies in the 19th century,” Filatova told DW, drawing parallels to colonial times.
“They got a mandate from their respective state, acted independently, but the state benefited from their presence in Africa.”
Cooperation between the private military and the Russian government occurs, especially where raw materials are abundant, with Wagner controlling the business interests on the continent.
Filatova explained that Russia benefitted from this relationship through Wagner’s extensive network of sub-companies: “They can be rebranded or remain under the same name, as they are already a brand in Africa. They can act independently.”
Mali’s jaw-dropping Wagner bill
Meanwhile, in Mali there’s even more financial entanglement between the government and Wagner and its subsidiaries: In late 2021, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US think tank, identified a new military base being built in the country.
Eyewitnesses on the ground then confirmed that the base was for Wagner troops.
On top of this, reports showed that Mali — one of the poorest countries in the world — was spending $10 million (€9 million) a month on Wagner mercenaries in the country, amounting to more than €100 million annually.
Wagner also has a significant stake in Mali’s oil sector, effectively controlling the price of the fossil fuels for export.
Elsewhere, the group is active in mining other riches, including gold. In recent years, a Canadian and a South African company lost their mining licenses, while a Madagascan company — closely linked to Russia — received a new concession.
How each arm of Wagner may position itself in a potential post-Prigozhin future “is totally unclear,” historian Filatova stressed, while suggesting that Russia would continue to seek to deepen its influence in Africa.
Mara took it further, explaining that Russia’s activities through Wagner in Africa were part of its war strategy in Ukraine: “(Russia) needs the Central African gold, the Malian gold, to finance the war. So nothing will change.”
Martina Schwikowski, Bob Barry, Sandrine Blanchard, Jean-Michel Bos and Mahamadou Kane in Bamako contributed to this article