The US State Department indicated on Monday that the aborted rebellion of the Wagner group in Russia showed the risk posed by this organization to African states that associate with them.
US diplomatic spokesman Matthew Miller told journalists that “The message that we have conveyed to these countries, both publicly and privately in the past, is that every time Wagner enters a country, death and destruction follow”.
Matthew Miller added that “Wagner exploits local people, we see them extracting local wealth, committing human rights abuses”.
“What happened this weekend reinforces the concerns we have expressed about the instability that the Wagner group brings with it when it enters a conflict”, continued Mr. Miller.
The Russian paramilitary group is increasingly active in Africa, particularly in Mali where the military junta employs these mercenaries and has sided diplomatically with Russia since the deterioration of its relations with France, the former colonial power.
However, Russia’s head of diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, announced on Monday that Wagner’s men would continue to operate in Mali and the Central African Republic “as instructors”.
The head of the Wagner group, Evguéni Prigojine, led a brief armed mutiny between Friday evening and Saturday evening that shook Russia.