Musings From Abroad

Russia’s Wagner rebellion lingers, but what’s in it for Africa?

Published

1 year ago

June 24, 2023

There are concerns that the reported revolt of the Russian mercenary— Wagner Group against the state could significantly affect diplomatic relations of some African countries, notably, Mali, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Burkina Faso, amongst others.

Wagner’s head, Yevgeny Prigozhin on Friday accused the Russian army of shelling his fighters. He later released a series of messages from late Friday into Saturday, claiming that he and his mercenary troops had entered the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and taken control of its military sites.

In reaction, Russian President Vladimir Putin has labelled the Wagner uprising a “stab in the back”, and vowed to punish “traitors”, even as the Russian forces step up to repel the mutiny.

The African dimension of the development is apt as both Mali and the CAR have openly engaged Wagner in their fights against terrorism with Wagner forces stationed on their soil despite contradictory positions by the United Nations, the United States, and France.

Should Mali be worried about fallout? A political analyst quoted by Reuters, Bassirou Doumbia, said “(Wagner’s) presence in Mali is sponsored by the Kremlin and if Wagner is at odds with the Kremlin … naturally Mali will suffer the consequences on the security front.”

Another expert on the subject, Yvan Guichaoua, who is a senior lecturer at the Brussels School of International Studies, said: “(The) exact consequences for Mali really depend on factors largely unknown such as the organisational autonomy of Wagner and their chain of command, and, of course, whether things escalate or not between (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and Wagner.”

Similar circumstances exist in CAR, where the government has been assisted by hundreds of Russian operatives, including several from the Wagner Group, in fighting multiple rebel insurgencies since 2018.

Burkina Faso, another country faced with terrorism, through its defence minister, Colonel Kassoum Coulibaly, last month denied that Wagner forces were on the ground for its fight against terrorism despite reports in Western media.

According to leaked US records, Wagner has operated in at least eight different African countries over the past ten years, including Mali, Libya, and the Central African Republic.

Mali in its part has severed relations, notably with France in recent months to keep up its ties with Russia. Will the Wager revolt inspire a change in diplomatic stands in the continent, particularly with defence ties in the wake of rising anti-France postures in the Sahel? Time will tell as the events unfold.

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Musings From Abroad

Swiss company Mercuria partners Zambia’s IDC in new metals trading firm

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by Swiss commodities trader, Mercuria, on Thursday, it has established a metals trading arm with Zambia, the second-largest producer of copper in Africa.

The trading unit is jointly owned by Mercuria and an arm of Zambia’s Industrial Development Company (IDC), and its purpose is to allow Zambia to engage directly in the minerals trading market.

The joint venture “envisages the establishment of a vehicle to market and trade Zambian copper by mutual leverage,” according to a statement from Cornwell Muleya, the CEO of IDC.

The southern African nation wants to increase copper output to roughly 3 million metric tonnes within the next ten years, and in 2023, it produced roughly 698,000 tonnes of copper, down from 763,000 metric tonnes the year before.

In June, the Zambian government announced that it would establish a minerals trading unit.

Investors including First Quantum Minerals and Barrick Gold are ramping up production, with output set to receive a further boost once Vedanta Resources’ Konkola Copper Mines restart activity.

“Our joint venture with IDC marks a significant milestone for Zambia as it positions itself more strategically in the global minerals market,” Kostas Bintas, Mercuria’s global head of metals and minerals, said in the statement.

Musings From Abroad

Blinken to reveal UN Sudan funding additions

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Additional financing for humanitarian aid to Sudan and initiatives to strengthen civil society in the nation, where a conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, will be announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the United Nations on Thursday.

Blinken will make many announcements when he leads a UN Security Council meeting on Sudan on Thursday, which will centre on humanitarian aid and civilian protection, Deputy U.S. Representative to the UN Ned Price told reporters on Wednesday.

According to Price, the announcements would include more money for humanitarian help, initiatives to strengthen civil society, and the return of democracy.

“Sudan, unfortunately, has risked becoming a forgotten conflict,” Price said.

“So part of the reason the secretary … opted to convene a signature event on this very topic is to make sure it remains in the spotlight,” Price said.

For almost 18 months, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and Sudan’s army have been engaged in combat, resulting in a severe humanitarian crisis that has forced over 12 million people from their homes and made it difficult for U.N. organisations to provide aid.

A power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces preceded a planned shift to civilian administration, which sparked the conflict in April 2023.

Although the army declined to join this year’s U.S.-mediated peace negotiations in Geneva, the warring parties did pledge to increase assistance access, which prevented any movement towards a ceasefire.

Price stated that before President Joe Biden’s term ends next month, the United States would keep collaborating with allies to enhance humanitarian access in Sudan and eventually end hostilities.

“We are going to leave nothing on the field in our efforts to work with allies, with partners, with the Sudanese stakeholders themselves, on the issues that matter most – humanitarian access, the provision of humanitarian assistance, ultimately, the process by which we can work to get to a cessation of hostilities, which is most urgently needed,” he said.