Wagner group actions in Africa
- April 25, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Wagner group actions in Africa
Subject : International Relations
Section: Msc
Section:
Concept :
- In the wake of the political crisis in Sudan which recently has turned into a countrywide armed conflict, there have been questions raised over the involvement of the Wagner group.
Wagner Group
- The Wagner group is a Russian private paramilitary organisation which is led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a rich businessman who is famously known as “Putin’s chef”.
- The Wagner Group is known to have very close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- The first operation of the Group was helping Russia annex Crimea in 2014 and since then the Wagner Group has been used in various Russian military operations in many countries.
- Although the Wagner group works closely with the Russian security apparatus, it is legally not recognised as a Russia-based private military company as private mercenary groups are illegal in Russia.
- However, in 2018, the Russian President recognised the group saying that the group has the right to pursue its interests anywhere in the world as long as they do not break Russian law.
- Apart from engaging in counter-militancy operations in Africa, the group is also involved in various political, economic and military fields.
- The group has been active in countries like Sudan, Mali, the Central African Republic, Mozambique and Libya in Africa.
Note :
- The UN’s International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries states that the states are required to bear the responsibility for the activities of the mercenaries who violate principles of international law which threaten sovereign equality, political independence, territorial integrity of states and self-determination of people.
- However, the Wagner Group is not a Russia-based private military company legally.