Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, has expressed support for Niger’s military coup, describing it as a liberation from Western colonizers. Although the voice message on Telegram was not officially confirmed to be Prigozhin’s, it had the same distinct intonation and language as the Wagner boss. He did not claim involvement in the coup but offered the services of his fighters to help maintain order in the country.
Prigozhin’s Wagner group is known for its security contracts in African countries like the Central African Republic (CAR) and seeks to expand its operations. Despite previous arrangements to relocate to Belarus after a failed mutiny, Prigozhin has been seen in Russia and even attended a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.
Recent photographs also surfaced showing Prigozhin meeting with African attendees at a Russia-Africa summit in St Petersburg. The appearance suggests that his private military company (PMC) will continue to play a role in advancing Russia’s foreign policy agenda in Africa.
In his voice message, Prigozhin touted the efficiency of Wagner’s alleged capabilities in stabilizing and developing African nations, suggesting that thousands of his fighters could help combat terrorists and protect local populations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger after the coup. Analysts believe that Prigozhin’s appearances indicate his PMC’s commitment to supporting Russia’s interests in Africa, reassuring African partners of their continued services amid recent uncertainties.
