7 African countries where Russian mercenaries, Wagner group have operated

Wagner group has integrated with some African military forces to provide advanced firepower and bolster manpower
Human Rights Watch accuses Wagner of unlawful killings and summary executions in Mali and other countries, leading to sanctions from the EU
The African Union is concerned about the threat and the need to reinforce the OAU Convention for the Elimination of Mercenaries in Africa

The Wagner Group, a Kremlin-linked private military company (PMC) founded by Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, first gained prominence in 2014 during Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Since 2017, the Wagner Group has offered military support, security, and protection to several African governments.

The Wagner Group, a Kremlin-linked private military company (PMC) was founded by Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin Euronews

In exchange, they have secured privileged access to natural resources, including gold and diamond mines, while the Russian military has gained access to strategic assets like airbases and ports.

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According to John F. Clark, Professor of Politics and International Relations, at Florida International University, Wanger’s motive is profit.

Clark says aside from the government payments it receives, Wagner has negotiated agreements for exclusive access to gold, diamonds and uranium resources in several places where it operates.

Since 2017, the Wagner Group has offered military support, security, and protection to several African governments politicstoday

The recent killings of citizens in Mali by Wagner mercenaries and their role in several coup plots have raised concerns about their disregard for human rights norms during operations.

Human Rights Watch in March, accused Russia’s Wagner group of unlawfully killing and summarily executing dozens of civilians during counterinsurgency operations in central and northern Mali since December 2023.

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These human rights abuses committed in the Central African Republic, Mali, Sudan and Ukraine earned the group sanctions from the European Union.

Wagner Group has actively engaged in conflicts across multiple countries in Africa and this report from the Armed Conflicts Location and Events Data (ACLED) shows the African countries where Wagner has featured prominently;

S/N	Country	Date of Operation
1	Sudan	2017
2	Mali	2021
3	Libya	2018
4	CAR	2018
5	Mozambique	2019
6	Burkina Faso	2018
7	Madagascar	2022

The African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) has repeatedly discussed the threat, underlining the pressing need to reinforce the 1977 Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Convention for the Elimination of Mercenaries in Africa.

However, the Institute of Peace and Security Studies (IPSSAfrica) says the continent lacks a continental structure that provides oversight and helps to control mercenaries.

As a result, there is limited follow-up by the AU on member states’ compliance with the 1977 convention or their support for domesticating its provisions.