UK to declare Russia’s Wagner Group a ‘terrorist’ organization amid its advance in Africa
3 min read
Russia’s Wagner group to be declared a terrorist organization by the UK Government amid its advances in Africa
Russia’s Wagner group to be declared a terrorist organization by the UK Government amid its advances in Africa.
The United Kingdom government is set to designate Wagner, the Russian mercenary group, as a “terrorist” organization.
According to the UK’s public service broadcaster, BBC, a draft order would be put forward in parliament to allow Wagner’s assets to be categorized as “terrorist” property and seized.
The designation will make it illegal for anyone in the UK to be a member of the group or support it.
The order will be presented in parliament on Wednesday.
The decision to proscribe the group under the Terrorism Act 2000 was taken due to “the nature and scale of the organization’s activities as well as the threat they pose to British nationals abroad,” the Guardian cited the Home Office as saying.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman described Wagner as “violent and destructive… a military tool of [President] Vladimir Putin’s Russia” and said its activities were a “threat to global security”.
The UK has already imposed sanctions on Wagner, some of its senior commanders, and those linked to it in Africa, over alleged human rights abuses, but had been under pressure to go further.
David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, noted the opposition Labour Party had called in February for the proscription.
“This is long overdue, but it’s welcome the government has finally acted,” Lammy wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Now the government should press for a Special Tribunal to prosecute Putin for his crime of aggression.”
Wagner played a prominent role in Moscow’s war in Ukraine and was instrumental in Russia’s capture of Bakhmut city in May. It has also been active in several African countries and Syria.
The Wagner Group has also been making inroads in Africa like the Central African Republic and Mali, where governments are relying on the services of the group to counter security threats.
Win for Kenya as a global body moves its headquarters to Nairobi
US pledges Ksh452 billion to Kenya and other developing nations for climate funding
UAE pledges $4.5 billion to African countries at Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi
Government to write off 60B debt owed to universities
Death threats by state agents forced me to withdraw cases following Ruto remarks, Lawyer
Increasingly, public opinion in these countries views Wagner and the Russian government as indispensable partners in helping their countries regain their sovereignty from France.
The presence of Wagner contractors in Africa was first confirmed in 2018 in the Central African Republic after President Faustin Archange Touadera sought their services to beat back a rebel uprising.
In Mali, the ruling military ran to Moscow for solutions to stop a militant insurgency but also to get rid of French forces. In response, Russia gave Wagner the green light to deploy.
It didn’t take long before neighboring Burkina Faso, itself wracked by Islamist militancy and instability caused by an army takeover looked east for respite.
In Africa, Wagner advances Moscow’s military, political, and economic goals, much to the chagrin of Western leaders who bemoan the loss of spheres of influence.
In Niger, the latest Sahel country to succumb to a coup d’etat, pro-junta rallies have called for Russia’s intervention, and expectedly, the departure of French forces.
Also read,
‘Mambo ni Matatu’ remark lands Ruto in court
US company pledges to hire 600 Kenyans by this week
Babu Owino responds on reports of being kicked out of parliamentary KYPA
IMF to review Kenya’s latest loan of KSh80.2bn targeting climate resilience
Ex-CJ Willy Mutunga questions Ruto move to abolish Visa restrictions for all visitors
Follow us
