In recent months there have been reports of Russian illicit arms deals against access to natural resources, often with corrupt regimes. This includes Zimbabwe, which evaded the arms embargo against this country. A report of “The Africa Centre for Strategic Studies” entitled “Tracking Russian Interference to Derail Democracy in Africa” showed how Russia assisted regimes such as Zanu PF to hold on to power.
The Zimbabwe “Standard” published an article in June that shed some light on Moscow’s activities on the Continent by quoting data analysts Armed Conflict Location (ACLED) and an African research organisation Event Data Project.
ACLED reported on the issue of the Wagner paramilitary group. It stated the mercenary group has been engaged in several mining projects, which included diamonds from the Marange fields. Zimbabwe ranked fifth of the countries where Wagner activities have been reported namely Mali, Central African Republic, DRC, Angola, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Mozambique, Sudan and Libya.
Russia’s interference is affected by official means such as blocking UN resolutions concerning human rights in Africa and also irregularly through disinformation, election interference as well as the use of the Wagner forces. This disrupts the democratic process.
The US government issued a statement on June 27, that had raised concerns about the Wagner Group’s activities in Zimbabwe and other African countries. It said the US was issuing the advisory in the “light of increasingly concerning reporting related to the role of illicit actors in the gold trade, including the Wagner Group”, highlighting the opportunities and specific risks raised by the gold trade across sub-Saharan Africa, among other issues.
A complex issue. In the light of the most recent development concerning Wagner, the question is open as to the future of Moscow’s African policy.