Foreign Policy Research Institute A Nation Must Think Before it Acts The Future of the Wagner Group in Africa

A nation must think before it acts.

Foreign Policy Research Institute Foreign Policy Research Institute

The Future of the Wagner Group in Africa

October 18, 2023 | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | Africa Program

About the Event

The Russian private military contractor, Wagner Group, has been operating in Africa, primarily in the Sahel, since 2017. It provides its clients with security services and direct military support, as well as pushing Kremlin propaganda. Wagner participates in mining and other extractive economic activities and has been implicated in human rights violations. The death of Wagner's CEO, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a plane crash near Moscow leaves the status of the mercenary group in doubt.
 
Clarissa Rodio, an expert on private military companies, joins Africa Program Chair Charles Ray to discuss Wagner's future in Africa. They will explore the possibility of its presence in Niger following the recent military takeover in that country, and the implications for other countries in the region that make use of Wagner.


FPRI is happy to provide this event free of charge thanks to the generous support of our members, partners, and event attendees. If you are not currently a member, the suggested donation is $25.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our events coordinator, Christine Datesman at cdatesman@fpri.org



Speakers

Clarissa Rodio

Clarissa Rodio - Clarissa Rodio is a Barrister practising in London, England. She developed experience in international criminal law, international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and has dealt with matters before international courts, including the International Criminal Court, the European Court of Human Rights, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. Clarissa’s research field primarily focuses on mercenaries and private military contractors (PMCs), in particular the Wagner Group and their activities in Ukraine and Africa.

Read More
Charles A. Ray

Charles A. Ray - Charles A. Ray, a member of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Africa Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, served as US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Republic of Zimbabwe.

Read More