Wagner chief says group making Africa 'freer,' in rare appearance since mutiny

Yevgeny Prigozhin hints he is on continent in recent video, as tensions brew in Niger over military coup that Wagner-linked group describes as fight against ‘colonizers’

MOSCOW, Russia — The leader of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video published Monday that his group was making Africa “freer” and suggested he was on the continent.

Prigozhin, a former Kremlin ally whose group rebelled against Russia’s military leadership in June, has made few public appearances since the mutiny.

The group maintains a strong military presence in Africa, where it has partnered with several nations, including Mali and the Central African Republic.

“We are working. The temperature is above 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). Just how we like it,” Prigozhin said in the video, which AFP was unable to immediately verify.

The video shows Prigozhin holding an assault rifle, before panning around to reveal military vehicles parked on a large, desert-like plain.

“The Wagner Group is conducting reconnaissance and search activities. Making Russia even greater on every continent — and Africa even freer,” Prigozhin said.

BREAKING: The leader of the Wagner Private Military Company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced that he is currently in Africa and is preparing to bring happiness and justice to African nations. pic.twitter.com/F8BnoGvwGr

— Open Source America (@USAopens) August 21, 2023

Wagner’s apparent activities in Africa come as tensions brew in Niger, which was rocked by a coup in July that saw its government deposed and a military junta installed.

A Russian organization affiliated with Wagner shared a message apparently from Prigozhin, who said the events in Niger were part of the nation’s fight against “colonizers.”