In 2019, a seasoned Russian diplomat informed me that Russia’s involvement in Syria, particularly in support of President Bashar al-Assad, was driven by a “pedagogical” motive. According to him, Putin observed the flawed interventions by the Bush and Obama administrations in Iraq, Libya, and Syria, which only resulted in chaotic situations. With his own intervention, Putin aimed to teach America how to intervene more effectively, swiftly, and decisively, without indulging in rhetoric about democracy and human rights. Yevgeny Prigozhin, also known as “Putin’s cook,” played a significant role in this endeavor. Notably, before leading Putin’s paramilitary Wagner Group, Prigozhin had a background in the catering business.
However, it seems that Prigozhin has now been relieved of his teaching position. Recently, his private jet crashed in the northern region of Moscow, and Russian authorities have confirmed his presence onboard. Remarkably, surviving under these circumstances can be perceived as a minor miracle. In June, Prigozhin orchestrated a notable coup attempt against a Russian leader since the end of the Cold War, attracting expectations of retaliation from Putin. Surprisingly, Prigozhin managed to stay alive and unharmed, while continuing his involvement in the core mercenary activities of the Wagner Group in Africa.
Many individuals who have been laid off from mundane jobs have experienced a disconcerting moment when they realize that the person shadowing them is their replacement. I believe the past two months have been a period of strategic maneuvering by Putin, akin to managerial judo. While Wagner’s presence in Ukraine has significantly diminished, their operations in Africa remain crucial to Russian policy. Putin saw fit to keep Prigozhin on board for a certain time to ensure the continuity of Wagner’s deals.
Prior to his demise, Prigozhin shared a video from Mali, presumably one of the four countries where Wagner holds significant sway. His men have supported warlord Khalifa Haftar in Libya and bolstered government warlords in Sudan, even managing mining and energy camps. However, the main prize for Wagner lies in the Central African Republic (CAR). When it appeared that Prigozhin had been marginalized, he made a public appearance at the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, which aimed to announce various Russian initiatives on the continent. A photograph captured Prigozhin shaking hands with a high-ranking aide to CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, signaling the Russian deal with CAR: the provision of security in exchange for access to natural resources. CAR is expected to align fully with Russia and disregard the interests of France and the United States.
Reportedly, Wagner now has over 1,000 soldiers deployed in CAR. Having reported from the country before Wagner’s involvement, I can attest to its tumultuous history of violent coups. Wagner, and those who have exploited CAR, show little concern for the well-being of the Central African people. Although the group has worsened the lives of Central Africans in many aspects, they have also brought some stability. President Touadéra seeks to extend his term and establish himself as an undeterred leader, and Wagner aligns with this objective. Through their involvement in the diamond business and other minor ventures, Wagner gains while CAR continues to suffer.
Wagner’s actions mirror the gangsterism prevalent in Russia during the 1990s, now being exported to other countries. Russia, while not as impoverished as CAR or Sudan, lacks the financial leverage and status to compete with Europe and America on those terms. Prigozhin offered Putin a service that allowed him to exert influence and dictate terms overseas. However, the puzzle lies in Prigozhin’s belief that he could develop an independent power center separate from Putin’s control. In such power games, mercenaries ultimately lose, as their success often prompts their boss to eliminate them to prevent any potential rivalry.
It appears that Putin allowed Prigozhin to survive for a while longer, enabling him to interact with various leaders and assure them that Russia’s failed mutiny would not disrupt its relationship with Africa. One can only wonder if the Kremlin assigned a new employee to shadow Prigozhin during these meetings, aiming to extract valuable information and establish further control over Wagner’s operations. Yesterday, that young employee, perhaps, traveled on a commercial flight, unaware of the fate that awaited them.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
