In Africa, Russians are often at the forefront. Kremlin chief Putin is counting on Prigozhin. The head of the Wagner Group wants to expand Moscow's influence there.
Frankfurt – The Wagner Group plays a central role in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. In the battle in Bakhmut, the mercenaries are significantly involved. But Ukraine is not the only country where Yevgeny Prigozhin's group is gaining influence. Africa in particular is the focus of "Putin's cook". The U.S. is countering this, as the U.S. daily Politico reported.
Prigozhin ignites in Africa: US uses truth as a weapon against Wagner Group
While Prigozhin is expanding the Wagner Group's presence in African countries, President Joe Biden's administration is using a time-honored tactic, the newspaper notes. The country shares sensitive information with allies on the continent in order to dissuade countries from partnering with Prigozhin. This has two functions:
- Warning to allies
- Informing opponents that the U.S. is in the know
So the US is using transparency as a weapon. Truth is the "most efficient way to fight the Wagner Group," a U.S. official told Politico in early May. "Of course, if we find credible information that confirms Wagner's disastrous influence, we let the public know, because the more people and decision-makers know, the better."
Wagner mercenary group: Gold deals help finance Ukraine war
The background: The US fears that Prigozhin's group is helping to finance the Ukraine war through its profits from Africa. In recent years, "Putin's cook," Prigozhin's nickname, has helped foster the Kremlin's relations with countries such as Libya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Mali and Chad. Wagner has perfected its business model in Africa: The Wagner Group offers unscrupulous personnel and services – no questions asked. In return, there are commodities – often hard cash.
Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner Group is also active in Africa. © -/AP/dpa
In Sudan, of all places, where a state of war has recently broken out, Wagner's business model becomes clear. The desperately poor country in the Horn of Africa is the third largest gold producer in Africa. The then long-term dictator Omar al-Bashir visited Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in Sochi in 2017 and promoted his country as "Russia's key to Africa". Plans for a naval base on the Red Sea, which is important for Moscow, were discussed. Prigozhin received licenses for gold mines and in return is said to have supplied at least weapons for the Sudanese army and the RSF paramilitaries involved in power. The U.S. imposed sanctions on the corporate network in 2020.
Investigations by CNN and investigative journalists found evidence that billions of dollars worth of gold had been smuggled from Sudan to Russia through Wagner's channels for years. Important foreign currencies that will benefit Moscow's state coffers in coping with the costs of the war of aggression against Ukraine. Wagner also owns mining rights in Chad, which borders Sudan.
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U.S. shares intelligence information - to undermine Wagner Group in Africa
As Politico reported, the U.S. intelligence agencies have repeatedly shared information with the affected countries in recent months. For example, with regard to a possible murder plot by the mercenary group against the president of Chad or the attempts to take more control over natural resources – such as gold. Sudan and the Central African Republic had been informed about the latter.
According to Politico, talks were also held in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso and Rwanda and secret information was shared. Whether the U.S. can achieve success with measures against the Wagner Group - and thus also against the Kremlin - remains open for the time being.
Meanwhile, Ukraine did exactly the opposite: instead of sharing information, it apparently concealed details of the spring offensive from the United States. (mbr with material from dpa)
