Wagner Group seeks new mercenaries for African missions post-Prigozhin era

The Wagner Group has launched a substantial campaign to recruit mercenaries to be deployed to Africa. This marks the first significant recruitment drive since the demise of Yevgeny Prigozhin and subsequent changes imposed by Russian authorities. It appears their services are in demand once more.

PMC Wagner, six months following the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has initiated its first major campaign targeting the enlistment of mercenaries for missions in Africa.

As of February 2024, recruitment has recommenced, with Wagner fighters actively seeking individuals to join their ranks. Journalists note that this move comes after a nearly year-long hiatus attributed to assembling mercenary units for the conflict in Ukraine.

According to the Meduza portal, the latest recruitment endeavour is extensive and spearheaded by at least ten recruiters. Previously, recruitment was conducted through a limited number of contact points, with ads occasionally posted in specific groups on the VKontakte social network.

This time, however, the approach has diversified. The organization's main Telegram account has seen over 20 posts emerge within a month. Moreover, recruitment calls have also been made through the personal accounts of PMC Wagner "employees".

Journalistic sources reveal that the Wagner Group is recruiting fighters for operations in Mali, extending its search beyond Russian nationals to include Belarusians.

Recruiters are proposing a six-month contract to potential candidates, offering a salary equivalent to over £2,460 and life insurance. These terms are similar to those extended to mercenaries for participation in the Ukrainian conflict.

It is pertinent to recall that the Wagner Group and its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, significantly impacted the Ukrainian battlefield but opted to withdraw at a crucial juncture. Subsequently, as per Prigozhin's statements, they confronted the commanders of the Russian military and advanced towards Moscow. Nonetheless, the attempted coup by Wagner was swiftly quelled by the authorities.

Months later, Yevgeny Prigozhin, along with his close associates, perished in a plane crash near Tver. Although the unit continues its operations in Ukraine, it finds itself on the periphery of the Russian military framework, a positioning vehemently opposed by the oligarch famously dubbed "Putin's chef". Ultimately, President Putin prevailed, leading PMC Wagner to fall under his directive.