Russia's Wagner Group Growth 'Underestimated' - UK MPs' Scathing Report

Summary:

• UK MPs criticize the government for underestimating Russia's Wagner mercenary group's growth and influence.
• The scathing report highlights the lack of understanding of Wagner's activities in Africa and calls for a task force to monitor the group's actions.
• Wagner group operates like a mafia network, collaborating with governments for mineral rights, leading to exploitation in Africa.
• Russia also seems to have underestimated the Wagner group, struggling to control its actions.

The UK government is facing criticism from MPs for underestimating the growth and influence of Russia's Wagner mercenary group over the past decade. A scathing report by the Foreign Affairs Committee highlights the government's lack of understanding of Wagner's activities beyond Europe, particularly in Africa. The report calls for a task force to monitor the group's activities since 2016 and accuses the government of complacency in dealing with the issue.

The Wagner group, a secretive organization of mercenaries formed in 2014 by former Russian special forces and soldiers, has been involved in various conflicts, including Crimea, Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Mozambique, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Sudan. According to the report, they operate like a mafia network, collaborating with governments in exchange for mineral rights and resources, leading to the exploitation and oppression of local populations in these countries.

The report criticizes the UK government for failing to provide viable alternatives to these countries, leaving them no choice but to seek help from Wagner. It emphasizes that the UK should have been actively countering Wagner's influence and actions in Africa to protect vulnerable nations from exploitation and violence.

The UK's underestimation of Wagner is not an isolated incident, as even Russia seems to have underestimated the group's capabilities. Recent events, including a mutiny within the Wagner group, have shown that the Kremlin is struggling to control the monster it helped create. Despite earlier denials, it's now evident that the Wagner group has deep ties with the Russian government, and its leader, Yevgeny Bregorzhin, is a key figure in the organization.

The report draws attention to a senior Wagner defector who provided crucial information on the group's operations in Africa, including their tactics involving torture of civilians in the Central African Republic. This revelation adds to the concern and urgency in addressing the Wagner group's actions and impact on vulnerable nations.

Despite the damning findings of the report, attempts to seek a response from the government and foreign office have been fruitless at the time of reporting.

The scathing report has put a spotlight on the UK government's handling of the Wagner group's growth and activities. It calls for immediate action to address the exploitation and violence perpetrated by the group in African countries. The international community will be closely watching how the UK responds to these revelations and whether concrete measures will be taken to counter the Wagner group's influence.