By Riches Soberekon
The UK Government has taken action against 13 individuals and companies that are believed to have played a role in the human rights violations committed by the Russian paramilitary organization Wagner in Mali, the Central African Republic, and Sudan.
The sanctions, which include the freezing of assets in the UK and a ban on visiting the country, targets Russians presented as Wagner’s managers in Mali, Ivan Maslov, and in the Central African Republic, Vitali Perfilev and Konstantin Pikalov.
The UK government claims that Wagner, led by Evgeny Prigozhin, has committed “executions and acts of torture in Mali and the Central African Republic, as well as threats to peace and security in Sudan.”
The UK government has already imposed sanctions on Prigozhin. Additionally, Konstantin Pikalov, who is believed to be Prigozhin’s right-hand man, is among those targeted by the latest sanctions.
Andrew Mitchell, the Secretary of State for Africa, has stated that the activities of Wagner have a catastrophic impact on communities, worsen existing conflicts, and harm the reputation of host countries, regardless of where they operate.
In addition to the individuals, London has imposed sanctions on mining and security companies that are believed to have financed Wagner or participated in its operations.
The future of Wagner is uncertain after its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, led a 24-hour rebellion in Russia in June.
Moscow has stated that the future of Wagner in Africa will depend on the countries involved.
However, the UK government has expressed serious concerns about Wagner’s destabilizing role in the region, citing the massacre of at least 500 people in Moura, Mali, in March 2022, which included summary executions, rape, and torture.
In the Central African Republic, Wagner is accused of “deliberately targeting civilians”, while in Sudan, “he supplied weapons and military equipment”, according to the same source.
The UK government’s decision to impose sanctions on Wagner is a significant move in the global community’s efforts to hold the organization accountable for its actions.
The sanctions are a clear indication that the UK will not tolerate the impunity with which Wagner operates.
