“Wagner’s goal is to make money and that’s the whole danger”

Wagner established himself as a major player in the war in Ukraine. The paramilitary group, created in secret by the Russian authorities in 2014, is not officially recognized by Moscow. This does not prevent this semi-secret entity from gradually gaining in importance: the members of Wagner impose themselves, by force and barbarism, both on the African continent and in Ukraine. Gradually, its existence came out of the shadows but its funding remains difficult to trace. “When the activity is related to Wagner, the contracts are not public and the filiation of certain companies to Evgueni Prigojine or other Wagner officers is difficult to prove clearly,” said Ousmane Diallo, Sahel researcher at Amnesty. International.

Mercenary activities are costly, especially since the Wagner group is growing in power and now has, according to Washington, 50,000 men in Ukraine. The Kremlin has never officially recognized this nebula and, until September, its leader, Yevgueni Prigojine, had never admitted his role in Wagner. “Officially, it’s a private company and the exact financial relations between the Russian state and Wagner are kept secret,” notes Carole Grimaud, founder of the CREER think tank and expert at the Geneva Geostrategic Observatory.

From canteens to mercenaries

Little by little, however, the veil is lifting on the Wagner nebula and the time of absolute secrecy gives way to a new, more ambitious era. At the beginning of November, the group inaugurated its first headquarters in Saint-Petersburg where recruitment sessions are organised. And yet, “the Russian constitution prohibits private military companies”, recalls Carole Grimaud. This does not prevent Moscow from paying Wagner. According to a survey of The Bell and Medusa published in 2019, the Russian Ministry of Defense partially funds the actions of the group via third-party companies of Yevgeny Prigojine who then transfer the money to the private military company (CPM).

The “Putin’s cook” is indeed an essential provider of the Kremlin and notably fills the plates of the Russian army and school canteens. It is therefore easy to inflate checks under the pretext of increasing orders when in reality a part is dedicated to Yevgueni Prigojine’s mercenary activities. But the Russian state might not be the only one to get involved. In 2020, the United States Defense Intelligence Agency published a report that accused the United Arab Emirates for having financed the Wagner group in Libya. “Wagner has been present in Libya since 2016 and, at one time, certain countries had an interest in strengthening its resources. It’s a society that can serve as an instrument of influence… Until it spirals out of control or becomes useless”, deciphers Carole Grimaud.

Wood, gold and diamonds

In addition to the European theater, the Wagner Swiss Army Knife is active in Syria, Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Mozambique and Madagascar. Its tentacles allow Russia to establish its power in Africa. “The Prigojine galaxy has a media component and its companies invest financially in the African media” in order to support Moscow’s propaganda, explains Carole Grimaud. Wagner’s main activity remains “security”, whether it is to protect leaders, train men in military maneuvers, manage customs or preserve sites.

In return, governments often offer the Prigojine galaxy concessions to exploit natural resources. “The private company Wagner is a nebula which has interests in several areas in Africa such as timber concessions, diamond or gold mines”, lists Ousmane Diallo, specialist in Mali. In Syria, in 2016, Evgueni Prigojine obtained to recover 25% of oil and gas field revenue taken over by Wagner troops from ISIS operatives.

The cost of the uberization of war

But these concessions, which can last “two, three or five years” depending on the scenario, impoverish the countries to the detriment of the CMP. “These states often need budgetary assistance for their functioning and it is not easy for them to get out 10 million dollars”, underlines Ousmane Diallo, who explains that this sum is the one that Wagner’s soldiers would have requested. for sending 1,000 men to Mali. The country’s authorities have always denied the presence of mercenaries on its territory, but “there are testimonies, photographs and documents which prove their operational presence”, assures the Sahel expert for Amnesty International. The company is accused of having plundered gold mines in Sudan but also in Central African Republic.

Sometimes, the private military company goes so far as to free itself from the governments or groups that hire it. “Wagner’s goal is to make money, to make money. And therein lies the whole danger for the countries in which they operate,” announces Ousmane Diallo. Because the nebula acts “without any scruples, without any law or even morality, apparently”, criticizes Carole Grimaud. In the Central African Republic, the group is accused of killing dozens of workers in order to loot local mines. Because the uberization of war has a cost. And this is much more disproportionate than when it affects other trades.

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