Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Wagner Group mercenaries in Koundjili, Central African Republic, May 2019. The Wagner Group is a Russian state-funded [1] paramilitary organization, also described as a private military company (PMC) and as a network of mercenaries. [2] [3] Since 2017 it has provided military support, security and protection for several governments in Africa. [4]
The Wagner Group, also known as PMC Wagner, [1] a Russian paramilitary organization [1] also described as a private military company (PMC), a network of mercenaries, [1] [2] and a de facto unit of the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) or Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU, [3] has conducted operations in the Central African Republic since late 2018.
The Wagner Group is known to have operated in at least 11 countries; Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, Mozambique, Central African Republic, Mali, Libya, Venezuela, and Madagascar, spanning four continents, Europe, Africa, South America and Asia. There are unconfirmed reports of activities in other countries.
The mutiny led by Prigozhin two weeks ago was “an internal matter for Russia,” he said, adding that the Central African Republic had an agreement with the Russian Federation, not the Wagner group.
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on two Central African Republic companies linked to Russia's Wagner mercenary group and to illicit mining activities, the Treasury Department said.
Syria and Libya are just some of the places Wagner forces have deployed. Their track record includes looting natural resources, destabilizing governments, rape, torture and executions.
The Wagner group presents a unique political dilemma going forward. Some analysts have argued it's misleading to call them "mercenaries" given their close ties to the Kremlin.
Wagner Group activities in the Central African Republic (1 C, 7 P) M. Wagner Group activities in Mali (2 C, 3 P) S. Wagner Group activities in Syria (10 P) U.