Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has remained active despite his exile since his failed stand against the Russian military last month.
He suddenly appeared via voice message on the Telegramm application. In the message, Prigozhin praised the military coup in Nigeria. Although, there was no direct statement that he was involved in the coup.
“What is happening in Nigeria is a people’s struggle to be free from their colonialists. The peddlers impose their rules of life and maintain the same conditions in Africa since hundreds of years ago,” he said via text message, quoted by Reuters, Saturday (29/7/ 2023).
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO RESUME CONTENT
The speaker in the voicemail has the same intonation and turns of phrase as Wagner’s boss. However, Reuters could not confirm its validity.
“The people of Africa effectively gained their independence today. They got rid of the colonialists,” he said.
Until now, it is not clear who is the core figure behind the military coup in Nigeria. They detained President Mohamed Bazoum at the Presidential Palace.
Nigeria is one of the poorest countries in the world. However, it contains the largest uranium reserves.
Nigeria’s military declared full independence from former colonial ruler France in 1960. Today, the country is under military rule.
The voice message is the latest sign that Prigozhin and his troops remain active in Africa. They still have security contracts in countries such as the Central African Republic (CAR), and want to expand them.
Prigozhin and his army had previously exiled to Belarus. There, they also started conducting army training.
In a video circulated earlier this month, Prigozhin told his men that they should start gathering strength for “a new journey to Africa”.
Prigozhin has also been seen in Russia several times since the post-insurgency agreement was reached. The Kremlin says the mercenary boss has even held meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Analysts say Prigozhin’s appearance shows that his private military companies (PMCs) will continue to play a role in advancing the Kremlin’s foreign policy agenda in Africa.
British media Sky News reports Wagner bosses attending a Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg.
The media claims that a number of photos have been verified. It was previously known that Prigozhin was announced to be exiled to Belarus, after a failed coup attempt on the Russian Defense Ministry.
According to observers, Prigozhin’s appearance foreshadows several different things. Including his relationship with Putin, who is actually still intimate and the importance of his position in Africa.
“It says Prigozhin is part of the Kremlin establishment. It says all your security interests in Africa with the Wagner group are fine,” said Melinda Haring, senior fellow at the Atlantic Eurasia Central Council.
“Putin and Prigozhin are good friends again, and the West has exaggerated” their bickering,” he added.
According to him he was also present to pursue Russia’s strategic interests in Africa. Especially the Central African region that uses Wagner’s services.
“You also have to remember that she has a long relationship with Vladimir Putin, and it is not easy to become ‘friends’ with him,” he added.
“In essence, Prigozhin was useful. He helped Putin pursue Russia’s strategic interests in Africa,” Haring said again.
“This weekend there is a referendum in Central African Republic and Wagner is providing security for that referendum.
The referendum will extend the presidential term limits for the leader there, and Moscow is very supportive,” he said.
“The big signal is: African leaders, don’t worry, we have you. Wagner is still in business, and you can count on us,” the observer said.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
(fab/fab)
2023-07-29 02:00:00
#Wagner #Boss #Prigozhin #Opens #Voice #Nigerian #Military #Coup
