Introducing WagnerWatch

WagnerWatch is a project of the U K Defence Forum which launched on 1st June 2023.

It brings together experienced observers (see explainer signatories), and builds upon works published at www.defenceviewpoints.co.uk since early 2021 (see footnote)

It republishes relevant pieces of information about the Wagner Group on its group at www.linkedin.com and welcomes contacts from others (particularly if they have access to non-mainstream, non-English publications. In which case please contact robin.ashby.ukdf@gmail.com )

What is the Wagner Group?

An explainer is on page 2

A "win" for Dagalo's Rapid Support Force in the current fighting in Sudan could benefit Wagner - the "mining" mercenaries – to the disadvantage of other African nations – and add to Europe's refugee problems, writes Fidel Amakye Owusu.

Just when some West African states are uncomfortable with the presence of Wagner forces in Mali and most likely, Burkina Faso, the group has become a "major" player in the current crisis. It's also active in some Sudan's neighbouring states such as the Central African Republic and Libya.

In 2019, after the first very successful Russia-Africa Summit, President Putin declared that Africa was one of Moscow's foreign policy priorities, writes Olivier Guitta. With its charm offensive in Africa, Moscow had de facto bought votes at the United Nations that proved crucial in particular since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. For proof of the critical importance of Africa, despite having suffered massive human losses and military defeats in Ukraine, Russia and its private military company Wagner are not removing any assets from the continent.