UK Slaps Sanctions On Russian Mercenary Groups, Including Wagner Successor In Africa

The UK government announced new sanctions on Thursday targeting three Russian-linked private mercenary groups, including Africa Corps, the successor to the Wagner Group.

“These sanctions will bear down on Russian malign activity in Libya, Mali, and CAR (Central African Republic), exposing and combatting Russia’s illicit activity in Africa,” the government said in a statement. This marks the first time a G7 nation has directly sanctioned Africa Corps.

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Russia, which once had strong influence in Africa during Soviet times, has been expanding its presence on the continent in recent years. Russian mercenaries from Wagner and now Africa Corps currently support several African governments, while Russian “advisers” work closely with local officials.

Alongside Africa Corps, the UK sanctions also target the private military group Espanola and the Bears Brigade. The move comes just before Russia hosts a major summit with African foreign ministers in Sochi, southern Russia, this weekend.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated the sanctions aim to “pushback on the Kremlin’s corrosive foreign policy, undermining Russia’s attempts to foster instability across Africa and disrupting the supply of vital equipment for Putin’s war machine” in Ukraine.

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This sanctions package, the UK’s largest against Russia since May 2023, also includes restrictions on suppliers aiding Russian military production and a GRU intelligence agent implicated in a 2018 chemical attack in Salisbury, UK. The UK, a major supporter of Ukraine, has committed £3 billion ($3.9 billion) annually in military aid to counter Russia’s invasion.

“Putin is nearly 1,000 days into a war he thought would only take a few. He will fail and I will continue to bear down on the Kremlin and support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom,” Lammy added.

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