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By Scott Morgan
During a recent hearing of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, the Commanding General of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) General Thomas Waldhauser made the following statement:
One of the major locations where this is a huge concern is without a doubt the Central African Republic. In December 2017, the UN Security Council granted a waiver to the Russian Federation to break the Arms Embargo currently in place against the country and begin the process of training and equipping two battalions of the national army. That opened the door to the state of affairs that concerns various sectors in Washington.
During his testimony, General Waldhauser reported that one Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner had at least 175 personnel currently on the ground in the Central African Republic. This group is of particular interest as they had a clash with members of the US Military that were on the ground in Syria supporting pro-Western elements in that conflict. Two other groups (the Kalishnikov Group and Patriot) are also believed to have boots on the ground in CAR but their specific numbers were not acknowledged during the hearing either.
It has also been revealed that Wagner has personnel on the ground in Sudan to assist the regime of Omar Bashir (ICC Indictee) dealing with protests that have lasted for several weeks now. The group has had Bashir as a client for some time now.
According to the same reporting, the Ukrainian Security Services was able to acquire the travel documents and the passport data of 149 members of Wagner who “directly partook in suppressing democratic protests in Sudan in early 2019.” The reporting also indicates that this deployment was arranged by Yevgeny Prigozhin who was able to obtain concessions in the Gold Industry after a meeting between Presidents Bashir and Putin that took place in the Black Sea Tourist spot of Sochi, in 2017.
Earlier this year, the National Security Advisor to the President John Bolton gave a speech outlining what the interests of the United States are in Africa. One of those goals was to counter the reemergence of interest in Africa by the Russian Federation. It is the view of the administration that the actions of Moscow are a destabilizing factor in Africa rather than a potential positive action.
Presenting these companies as a viable option to support UN Peacekeeping Missions is an interesting dynamic. It allows for professionally trained specialists to potentially operate in hostile situations with the caveat of having different rules of engagement.
What countries does the bear have interest in? There have been rumblings that Wagner has been operating in Northeastern Mozambique. The group is also reported to be showing interest in the chaotic situation within South Sudan as well. The resource rich Democratic Republic of the Congo may be another country where they may have some interest.
How the Trump Administration reacts to this unfolding situation is yet to be seen.
“The United States is concerned by Russia’s growing presence in Africa”.
One of the major locations where this is a huge concern is without a doubt the Central African Republic. In December 2017, the UN Security Council granted a waiver to the Russian Federation to break the Arms Embargo currently in place against the country and begin the process of training and equipping two battalions of the national army. That opened the door to the state of affairs that concerns various sectors in Washington.
During his testimony, General Waldhauser reported that one Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner had at least 175 personnel currently on the ground in the Central African Republic. This group is of particular interest as they had a clash with members of the US Military that were on the ground in Syria supporting pro-Western elements in that conflict. Two other groups (the Kalishnikov Group and Patriot) are also believed to have boots on the ground in CAR but their specific numbers were not acknowledged during the hearing either.
It has also been revealed that Wagner has personnel on the ground in Sudan to assist the regime of Omar Bashir (ICC Indictee) dealing with protests that have lasted for several weeks now. The group has had Bashir as a client for some time now.
Reports, in January, indicated that the NISS (Sudan’s Intelligence Services) were being trained by Russian Private Military Corporations. (source)
According to the same reporting, the Ukrainian Security Services was able to acquire the travel documents and the passport data of 149 members of Wagner who “directly partook in suppressing democratic protests in Sudan in early 2019.” The reporting also indicates that this deployment was arranged by Yevgeny Prigozhin who was able to obtain concessions in the Gold Industry after a meeting between Presidents Bashir and Putin that took place in the Black Sea Tourist spot of Sochi, in 2017.
Earlier this year, the National Security Advisor to the President John Bolton gave a speech outlining what the interests of the United States are in Africa. One of those goals was to counter the reemergence of interest in Africa by the Russian Federation. It is the view of the administration that the actions of Moscow are a destabilizing factor in Africa rather than a potential positive action.
Presenting these companies as a viable option to support UN Peacekeeping Missions is an interesting dynamic. It allows for professionally trained specialists to potentially operate in hostile situations with the caveat of having different rules of engagement.
As a Non-State Actor their activities will face a different scrutiny for jurisprudence.
What countries does the bear have interest in? There have been rumblings that Wagner has been operating in Northeastern Mozambique. The group is also reported to be showing interest in the chaotic situation within South Sudan as well. The resource rich Democratic Republic of the Congo may be another country where they may have some interest.
How the Trump Administration reacts to this unfolding situation is yet to be seen.
(Imagem: Russian SpecOps[Ed] - Google Images)
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Hi Morgan,
ReplyDelete"As a Non-State Actor their activities will face a different scrutiny for jurisprudence."
Touché!
Cheers