I cannot say I’m surprised by Russia’s current exploitation of Africa, nor the chain of violence ongoing across the continent. As the Ukranian Army decimates its official armed forces in Ukraine, its private concerns in the Wagner Group push forward with Russian expansionism in mineral-rich Africa.
Wagner in Africa, despite high treason against Putin’s regime, is a circumstantial proof of how the regime interprets its full spectrum of warfare strategy. It seems to have also left western governments blind as to its potency. Transnational, and amenable to its partners; Wagner’s approach and execution in Africa appears to be an example of impeccable intelligence, expert analysis, and precision planning.
Its implementation over many years has seen it become a firestorm in Africa. It’s displacing western security operations at a rate that the West currently appears unable to respond do. In my debut novel, From Terror to Valor: Echoes and Shadows, part of Jack’s journey was uncovering this talent for data engineering. It features in the story line and leaves no doubt how digital technology can materially aid global counterterrorism.
Russia’s Wagner Group renamed the Africa Corps
Russia, via its intelligence services, has to a great exent, divested its asymmertical intelligence, operator and offensive capabilities. While all civilized people consider Putin and his regime vile, the insight and effectiveness of clever moves like this flew under the radar of disgust and dismissal by the West. If they had the technology Jack helped develop in this fictitious story, I wonder how successful Wagner would have been in Africa.
However, the real world of western intelligence was never fully blind to events as they unfolded. Therefore, Wagner’s wildfire like spread in Africa is now known at the highest levels. Wagner Group’s impact has seen raw materials such as gold transported by them to the UAE, murderous militias professionally trained in asymmetrical warfare, and opposing sides supported in their dire defence of their people.
From Terror to Valor: Echoes and Shadows, available on pre-order for September 11th release.
The many examples of the full spectrum of warfare strategy, implemented by Wagner Group in Africa, are clear for all to see. A military junta recently became powerful enough to overthrow the Niger government in a coup. This new regime gave France and now the United States its notice to leave Niger.
Wagner Group expansion in Africa
Despite Russian meddling in their affairs, the Nigerians clearly support Wagner and their new military junta. This year, Aljazeera ran with a story on May 1st after the March notice to the United States by Niger to withdraw its 1000-strong force. This was a key force supporting the anti-ISIS/ISIL military campaign by Niger in the Sahel Sahara region.
The garnered anti-west sentiment and vilification of a key supporting force like this has the hallmarks of integrated infiltration using false narratives over multiple communications mediums. Western lack of preparedness for what is a strategy structured by mathematical precision is a key reason for Wagner’s success.
It’s also why everybody in the West needs to become familiar with this kind of penetrating, hard to define threat. The violence in Africa, ruthlessly implemented by Wagner and its surrogates, has wreaked havoc and destruction in its wake. Its multi threaded and impeccably timed, creating disruption when unity by those targeted would clearly be in their interests.
ISIS/ISIL terror group expands influence in Africa
ISIS/ISIL in Africa are enjoying a very receptive regional audience in the wake of this potent intrusion by Wagner on behalf of Russia in their affairs. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Aljazeera ran with an article on June 8th of this year. A violent militia called the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked a village and slaughtered 36 people.
In 2018, the ADF swore allegiance to ISIS/ISIL; whose strategic focus seems to have shifted from trying to manipulate lost and violence prone people in the West to attack their own people. The new focus on Africa has shown how much potential for power exists for the terror group, and they appear intent to capitalize upon it.
The two examples seem unrelated at first glance, but all is not as it seems. If you go deeper into the violence and culture that has strangled Africa for so long, the opportunities are many for malicious, well supported, and skilled interests. Russia, under rebuke from western sanctions, and via the Wagner Group, takes advantage of what Africa unwittingly presents as opportunities.
I long for a day when Africa as a whole can breathe freely. For now, certain parts of this old continent, with this ancient tribal heritage; will be subject to the worst of humanity presenting as rose-tinted saviors. Despite what tyrants think, avarice only corrupts the like-minded. It’s those brave enough to connect with their real roots and travel the hard path to freedom; which will restore the dignity and prosperity that their children’s children so richly deserve!
About the Author
John is a versatile author known for his gripping fiction narratives in the thriller, action, and suspense genres. With a background as a journalist since 2016, and expertise in cloud technologies as an engineer; John brings a unique blend of storytelling prowess and technical acumen to his work.
