US Africa Command chief details high price of doing business with Russian mercenaries

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The Russian mercenary Wagner Group has gained notoriety for leading battles in the war in Ukraine, but its efforts in multiple African nations predate that conflict, USAfricaCommand chief Gen Michael Langley testified to the Senate.

U.S. Africa Command chief Gen. Michael Langley mentioned to lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday about the Wagner Group's activity in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Libya, among other African countries."Wagner's short-term promises can be enticing, but the long-term outcome for African clients are nations mired in corruption and crime that stunt economic growth. Wagner's financial price tag is exorbitant," he said in his written testimony.

“Wagner’s draconian operations with its partner in Mali both add to the human cost of terrorism and create more openings for terrorist groups," Langley said."Wagner exploits political fractures in Libya, where Russia seeks to threaten NATO's southern flank. Wagner benefits from Libya’s fragmentation, and its interference in parts of Libya risks hindering efforts to form the unified national government and security forces that the Libyan people want and deserve.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently in Niger, and he also discussed the threat the paramilitary company poses on the continent. Closer to home, the Wagner Group has been on the front lines of the Russian military's battle in Bakhmut, Ukraine. The fighting in the small town has gone on for months with both sides incurring staggering casualties, though they have been unable to claim the city center.

 

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