The Dead Canary Times

Worth ReWatching

The Wagner Group’s proxy wars and geopolitical maneuvering in Africa

2 min

Read Time
See an overview of the most rewatched sections of this video
Read Now

22 min

Video Length
Skip to the top 5 highlights from this resource
Watch Now

Quick Summary

The Sahel, a region spanning from Senegal to Eritrea, is currently the battleground for an undeclared war involving various global powers. Russia’s private military company, Wagner, has established a strong presence in the Sahel, alongside France, China, and the United States. Wagner, with its ties to the Kremlin, operates as a profit-based enterprise while pursuing Russian state interests in Africa. Its primary objective is to disrupt Western interests and gain political capital, positioning itself as an alternative to French influence in the region. This article explores the complex dynamics of the proxy conflicts, subversion, and brinkmanship unfolding in the Sahel.

Most ReWatched Sections

Wagner's Expansion and Objectives

Wagner has strategically positioned its operations in Mali, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Chad, Sudan, and Libya. In each country, Wagner contractors provide a range of services, including site security, information warfare, and private intelligence work. Their activities focus on securing strategic sites and mineral deposits, controlling resources, and curbing Western influence. By establishing a strong foothold in the Sahel, Wagner aims to create a corridor from the region to the mineral trading hub of Dubai, granting Russia exclusive access to Sahel resources.

French Influence and Wagner's Anti-French Sentiment

The former French colonies in the Sahel remain subject to French influence, which has sparked anti-French sentiment among the locals. Wagner has capitalized on this sentiment, presenting Russia as an anti-imperial alternative. Despite lacking any colonial stigma, Wagner's motives are primarily profit-driven, and its CEO, Yevgeny Pregozian, seeks political capital at the Kremlin. This autonomous pursuit of Russian state interests allows the Kremlin plausible deniability, making Wagner an indispensable component of Russian politics.

Wagner's Operations and Partnerships

In Mali, Wagner has partnered with the government, providing support and resources while being involved in controversial activities. Similar alliances have been forged in Burkina Faso, Chad, and the Central African Republic. By exploiting political instability and conflicts, Wagner gains control over strategic resources, suppresses local resistance, and secures lucrative mineral deposits. In Libya, Wagner aims to undermine the internationally recognized government allied with Turkey and disrupt oil exports to Europe.

Chinese Interests and Potential Alliances

China, observing Wagner's success, is keen to join the winning team to safeguard its business interests in Africa. A potential alliance between Wagner and Chinese forces could mirror the Russia-China alliance forming in Eurasia. China's investments in the Sahel region require military backing, and Wagner could provide the necessary protection for Chinese assets on the ground.

Summary

In this complex landscape of proxy conflicts and geopolitical maneuvering, African nations find themselves caught between competing global powers. The best course of action for these nations lies in skillful maneuvering, playing all camps against one another, and avoiding hard commitments that cannot be reversed. Maintaining composure and adapting to changing circumstances will be crucial to mitigate the risk of open conflict and ensure Africa’s interests are safeguarded.

In conclusion, the undeclared war in the Sahel highlights the intricate web of geopolitical interests and proxy conflicts unfolding in the region. Wagner’s expansion and objectives, French influence, Chinese interests, and potential alliances all contribute to the evolving dynamics in Africa. As the Sahel’s future will have a significant impact on the global economy, navigating this complex landscape requires a delicate balancing act and strategic decision-making from all stakeholders involved.

Highlights

5 Videos

Rabbit Holes

Dig deeper into the people, places, and self-interests from this video that are pushing the world economic system to the brink:

  • Burkina Faso,Chad,China,France,Libya,Mali,Proxy Wars,Putin,Russia,Sahel,Senegal,Sudan,the Central African Republic,US,Wagner Group,Yevgeny Prigozhin

Report

Harassment or bullying behavior
Contains mature or sensitive content
Contains misleading or false information
Contains abusive or derogatory content
Contains spam, fake content or potential malware

Block Member?

Please confirm you want to block this member.

You will no longer be able to:

  • See blocked member's posts
  • Mention this member in posts
  • Invite this member to groups

Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete.

Report

You have already reported this .