Africa Grapples with Strategies to Reduce Russian Mercenary Influence

Across Africa, nations are seeking ways to diminish the influence of Russian mercenaries, particularly those associated with the Wagner Group and its successor, the Africa Corps. This effort comes amid concerns about the groups' destabilizing activities, human rights abuses, and exploitation of natural resources. The challenge involves navigating complex security landscapes, re-evaluating partnerships, and strengthening domestic capabilities.

The Wagner Group's Shadow

Since 2017, the Wagner Group, a Russian state-funded paramilitary organization, has expanded its presence in Africa, offering military support, security, and protection to various governments. In return, Wagner-linked companies have gained privileged access to natural resources like gold and diamonds, while the Russian military has secured strategic locations such as airbases and ports. This arrangement has allowed Russia to exert geopolitical control while maintaining plausible deniability for controversial military actions.

However, the Wagner Group's operations have been marred by accusations of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and targeting civilians. Reports indicate that Wagner forces have razed entire villages, murdered civilians, and participated in unlawful executions to advance their economic interests. The group has also been implicated in the industrial-scale smuggling of gold, diamonds, and timber, further destabilizing the regions where it operates.

The Rise of Africa Corps

Following the death of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in August 2023, the Kremlin moved to formally integrate Wagner's African operations under the control of Russian military intelligence, the GRU. Wagner's activities have since been rebranded under the Ministry of Defence as the "Africa Corps," signaling increased oversight and a more direct extension of Russian state power.

Despite the rebranding, the Africa Corps retains many of Wagner Group's military, political, and economic goals, employing similar strategies to achieve them. The group continues to operate in countries like the Central African Republic (CAR), Mali, Sudan, Niger, and Burkina Faso, providing military training, security services, and support to local regimes.

Strategies for Reducing Russian Influence

Several strategies have been proposed and implemented to reduce the influence of Russian mercenaries in Africa:

1. Strengthening African Union Security Sector: The United States and Europe should strengthen the African Union's security sector to ensure it is adequately equipped to handle counterterrorism and rebellions as a collective, thus removing the need for countries to employ Wagner and reducing the destabilizing effect of foreign government interference.

2. Diversifying Security Partnerships: African countries can reduce their reliance on Russian mercenaries by diversifying their security partnerships. This involves engaging with a broader range of international actors, including Western countries, regional organizations, and other emerging powers. By diversifying partnerships, African nations can access a wider array of resources, expertise, and training opportunities, reducing their dependence on any single provider.

3. Enhancing Domestic Security Capacity: Investing in domestic security capacity is crucial for reducing the demand for foreign mercenaries. This includes strengthening national armies, police forces, and intelligence agencies through training, equipment, and institutional reforms. By building stronger domestic security institutions, African countries can better address their own security challenges and reduce their reliance on external actors.

4. Countering Disinformation: Russian mercenaries often engage in disinformation campaigns to bolster their influence and undermine Western interests. Countering these campaigns requires investing in media literacy programs, supporting independent journalism, and promoting transparency and accountability in governance. By countering disinformation, African countries can strengthen their resilience to external manipulation and promote informed decision-making.

5. Imposing Sanctions and Legal Measures: The international community can impose sanctions and legal measures against Russian mercenaries and their affiliated entities to disrupt their operations and hold them accountable for their actions. This includes targeting individuals and companies involved in human rights abuses, illicit resource extraction, and other destabilizing activities.

6. Supporting Civil Society and Human Rights: Strengthening civil society organizations and human rights defenders is essential for monitoring and exposing the activities of Russian mercenaries. These organizations play a crucial role in documenting human rights abuses, advocating for accountability, and promoting good governance. By supporting civil society and human rights, the international community can help create a more transparent and accountable security environment in Africa.

Challenges and Considerations

Despite these strategies, reducing the influence of Russian mercenaries in Africa faces several challenges:

• Entrenched Interests: Russian mercenaries have often become deeply entrenched in the countries where they operate, developing close ties with political elites and economic interests. This makes it difficult to dislodge them without risking political instability or economic disruption.
• Lack of Alternatives: In some cases, African governments may turn to Russian mercenaries due to a lack of viable alternatives. Western countries may be unwilling or unable to provide the security assistance that these governments need, creating a vacuum that Russia is eager to fill.
• Anti-Western Sentiment: Russia has successfully tapped into anti-Western sentiment in some African countries, portraying itself as a reliable partner that is not burdened by the legacy of colonialism. This makes it more difficult for Western countries to compete with Russia for influence in the region.
• Coordination Challenges: Effectively addressing the challenge of Russian mercenaries requires close coordination between African governments, international organizations, and Western countries. However, differing priorities and perspectives can make it difficult to achieve a unified approach.

A Shifting Landscape

The landscape of Russian mercenary activity in Africa is constantly evolving. The death of Yevgeny Prigozhin and the reorganization of the Wagner Group have created new uncertainties and opportunities. While the Africa Corps may be more directly controlled by the Russian state, it also faces challenges in maintaining the same level of influence and operational effectiveness as its predecessor.

At the same time, African countries are becoming increasingly aware of the risks and costs associated with relying on Russian mercenaries. As they seek to diversify their security partnerships and strengthen their domestic capabilities, there is an opportunity to reduce Russia's influence and promote a more stable and secure future for the continent.

Conclusion

Reducing the influence of Russian mercenaries in Africa is a complex and multifaceted challenge. It requires a combination of strategies, including strengthening African Union security sector, diversifying security partnerships, enhancing domestic security capacity, countering disinformation, imposing sanctions and legal measures, and supporting civil society and human rights. While there are significant challenges to overcome, the growing awareness of the risks associated with Russian mercenaries and the increasing desire for African agency offer hope for a more secure and prosperous future.