Evgueni Prigojine, leader of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, recently made headlines by claiming to be “in Africa” in a 41-second video broadcast on several Telegram channels. Dressed in military attire and holding a gun in his hand, Prigozhin says that Wagner conducts reconnaissance and research activities on the African continent to make Russia even greater and to defend justice and happiness for African people.
This video, widely relayed on channels close to Wagner, is accompanied by contact details for recruiting volunteers. Since its mutiny, the group of mercenaries is no longer officially present in the conflict in Ukraine. This media appearance of Prigojine could thus be a way for him to show the Russian power that he remains useful.
This announcement of Wagner’s deployment in Africa raises several questions. First of all, one can wonder in which country Prigojine and his men are located. Moreover, what are their real intentions in Africa? Are the reconnaissance and research mentioned by Prigojine related to security operations or economic interests?
It is also important to note that this announcement comes after Prigojine’s participation in the Russia-Africa summit, where he was photographed shaking hands with the chief of protocol of the president of the Central African Republic. These signs of rapprochement with African officials could indicate a desire by Wagner to develop partnerships or expand his activities on the continent.
It should be recalled that Wagner is known for his involvement in the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, where he acts as a supporting force for Russian interests. The group’s arrival in Africa could therefore have consequences on the security situation in the region, as well as on political and economic dynamics.
It is essential to follow closely the evolution of the presence of Wagner in Africa and to understand the real motivations of this deployment