Stage Talks with Bellingcat "Monitoring Wagner Mercenaries in Africa" with Lou Osborn
Jun 6, 2025
Lou Osborn, a lead researcher at Inpact's All Eyes ON Wagner project, dives into the complex world of Russian private military contractors in Africa. She discusses the Wagner Group's evolving role post-Yevgeny Prigozhin, including their influence in resource extraction and the challenges of monitoring their activities. Osborn also sheds light on the intricate competition between Wagner and Chinese interests, the innovative use of open-source tools for tracking them, and the significant difficulties in documenting human rights abuses linked to these mercenaries.
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Hybrid Methods to Track Wagner
- All Eyes on Wagner combines open-source intelligence and human-source tips for comprehensive tracking of Wagner activity globally.
- They adapt with challenges like the Moscow march and shifting from private to Ministry of Defense control.
Wagner's Fragmentation Strategy
- After Prigogine's death, Wagner shifted to more Russian MOD affiliated groups like Russia's Africa Corps and Wagner Legion.
- Fragmentation of Russian PMCs appears as a deliberate strategy to control influence in Africa.
Gold Fuels Wagner's Funding
- Wagner uses gold mining operations in Africa, notably in Central African Republic, to generate cash for Russia.
- This gold is sold in the UAE, with proceeds funneling back to Russia as hard currency.