By John Ikani
The Director of Intelligence Analysis at the US Africa Command, Eric Miller has warned that the Russian Wagner group only cares about is making money when it enters conflicts in Africa.
Speaking during an interview with the BBC’s Newsday radio programme, Miller said all mercenaries aim to do is provide services and get paid in return.
According to him: “They’re not there to support democracy or good governance, they’re not there to build infrastructure or help boost the economic potential of the country,” he said.
The group was first identified in 2014 when it was backing pro-Russian separatists in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Since then, it has been involved in countries including Syria, Mozambique, Sudan, the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali.
Mr Miller also highlighted human rights abuses that the Wagner group is accused of committing, including in Tripoli where he said they had “left a series of landmines and booby traps in those areas – they even placed grenades and other explosive in children’s toys.
“I mean who does that?” he asked.
He also outlined the group’s work in Mali, saying they were conducting training, close protection and counter-terrorism, but also warned of reports that they were targeting civilians.
He said there were around 2,000 Wagner mercenaries in Libya, 1,000 in CAR, 1,000 in Mali and none in Sudan at the moment.
The Russian Government has previously denied any links to Wagner.
