By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov has said despite rebellion by the group’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in Moscow, members of Wagner will continue to operate in Mali and Central African Republic (CAR).
The country’s head of diplomacy while giving this assurance on Monday, added that the organization’s mutiny against Russian military on Saturday in Russia, will not affect relations between Moscow and its allies.
Wagner members are working in Mali and the Central African Republic “as instructors. This work will of course continue”, said Lavrov in an interview.
Lavrov said that Europe and France “having abandoned the CAR and Mali”, these countries had turned to Russia and Wagner to provide military instructors and “ensure the security of their leaders”.
The West and its allies have alleged that Wagner is an instrument of Russian influence, designed to advance Moscow’s interests and compete with those of the Europeans.
The armed group is also accused of committing atrocities wherever it is deployed, and of extorting natural resources, an allegation Russia has repeatedly denied.
Lavrov says Prigozhin’s rebellion and his men deployed in Ukraine would change nothing in Russia’s relations with its allies.
“There have been many calls (from foreign partners) to President (Vladimir) Putin to express words of support,” he said.
“With partners and friends, no. As for other (countries), frankly, I don’t care. Relations with the collective West are destroyed, so one episode more or less…”, the diplomat felt.
