Recent days have witnessed the departure of Russian Wagner mercenaries from multiple camps in the northern and northeastern regions of the Central African Republic, raising questions about a potential reorganization of the Russian presence in the country following a conflict between Wagner and the Moscow government.
Local news site Oubangui Médias reports that the initial departures began on Monday and have continued since. Russian mercenaries have reportedly vacated several localities in the country’s northern region, including Moyenne-Sido, a town bordering Chad. The exact number of departures remains uncertain.
Western security sources suggest that around 500 Wagner personnel have left the country, with Libya as their potential destination before potentially heading to Belarus. According to internal documents disclosed by Le Monde newspaper, approximately 14 of the 47 identified Wagner camps are affected by the recent departures, leaving an estimated remaining force of around a thousand paramilitary operatives.
Potential Causes of Departure
The reasons behind these departures are unclear. Speculations range from potential refusals by the mercenaries to sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense to planned major rotations amidst the ongoing crisis with the Kremlin. Nevertheless, Moscow has assured that existing partnerships will continue, with the Wagner paramilitary group set to maintain its operations in Mali and the Central African Republic.
In an interview with the RT channel on June 26th, 2023, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov affirmed that Wagner members working as instructors in Mali and the Central African Republic would undoubtedly continue their roles. Bangui relies on its allies to ensure the security of the constitutional referendum scheduled for July 30th.
The current leadership of Wagner in the Central African Republic, namely Vitali Perfilev in the security sector and Dimitri Sityi in the economic and information sector, are trusted individuals of Evgueni Prigojine. They have also cultivated strong networks within the corridors of power. Their roles and future involvement amidst the recent developments remain uncertain.