Increasing aggression by mercenaries affiliated with Prigoschin in Africa is becoming evident.
In Africa, Russian militants have amplified their involvement in conflicts against insurgents and terrorists, assisting local governments. As per an analytical body, the frequency of political disturbances linked to these private military groups has surged remarkably in the first half of the year. The majority of the casualties have been non-combatants.
Russian mercenaries, led by the Wagner Group post their leader's demise in a plane crash, have been consistently influential. Recent research by ACLED, a conflict data organization, reveals that there have been more instances of political violence associated with Russian mercenaries in Africa in the first half of 2024, compared to the entire lifespan of Yevgeny Prigozhin.
In this span, the Wagner forces, now operating under the alias Africa Corps and governed by the Ministry of Defense and military intelligence, have primarily been active in Mali and the Central African Republic. In their missions to aid the governments in their battles against rebellion and terrorism, ACLED reports that the Wagner group has been involved in nearly a third of military operations since late 2021 in Mali.
Moreover, approximately 60% of the violent encounters in Mali involving Wagner forces have been targeted towards civilians. ACLED, established in 2005 by a conflict researcher, is a global, non-profit organization that collects and disseminates data on political violence around the world for use by researchers and media.
The European Union has expressed concern over the increasing involvement of Russian mercenaries, led by the Wagner Group, in African conflicts. Despite operating under a new alias, Africa Corps, the Wagner group's actions, such as their involvement in nearly a third of military operations in Mali since late 2021, have raised concerns within the international community, which is primarily composed of organizations like the European Union.
