The Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs of UK has lambasted the administration for its lack of insight on the operation of the Wagner Private Security Company.
The Wagner private security in Russia has grown dangerously, expanding their activities to different nations across the globe.
The committee’s 82-page document claimed that, the British administration for the past ten years, has “under-played and under-estimated the Wagner Network’s activities, as well as the security implications for Europe.”
The Committee’s report revealed that, the Wagner Private Security are engaged in military operations in over six nations, including Syria, Ukraine, the Central African Republic, Libya, Mozambique, and Mali.
According to a report issued by the MPs’ cross-party committee, it criticized the government for having “a dismal lack of understanding” on the operations of the Wagner in some parts of Africa.
“We are deeply concerned by the government’s dismal lack of understanding of Wagner’s hold beyond Europe, in particular their grip on African states.”
Alicia Kearns, Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee.
The Foreign Affairs Committee based their report on information gathered from credible and reliable defected senior Wagner officials, and indicated that the group has boasted its training of local police in Central Africa Republic (CAR), on how to torture detained civilians.
Also, it revealed that, the group has established a very effective business structures, that generates them a lot of profit, at the detriment of the local populace.
The report gained momentum following the deployment of about 10,000 Wagner mercenary forces near the borders of Belarus and Poland. However, there have been rumors that, the group is determined to launch an assault in Poland.
Purported Atrocities of Wagner Forces
Reports on atrocities committed by the Wagner forces in the countries they have been operating alongside their host country, have surfaced on various media platforms.
In Mali, the Wagner group has been in operation since the Malian Military administration drove out the EU-backed French soldiers from the country.
Report from civilians and other human right groups have shown that, the Mali military along with its Wagner forces, have carried out several massacres on unarmed civilians, in their operation to drive out terrorists.
“Where the West moves out, Wagner moves in, seeing opportunity in suffering and profit in chaos. The UK must provide an alternative for countries that are struggling. It is a foreign policy goal of the Kremlin to force failing states to rely on the Wagner network.”
The Foreign Affairs Committee’s Report.
The Wagner group, according to Ms. Kearns, is an example of the longing desire for regulation of Private Military Companies (PMCs).
Alicia Kearns further insisted that, the Wagner Group has committed massacres unique to themselves, particularly in the Central African Republic.
Moreover, she conceded that, other Western-backed Private Military Companies like the US security firm Blackwater (The Agenci), which has been linked with murdering innocent people in Iraq and Afghanistan while serving as a contractor, all deserves condemnations.
Ms. Kearn further queried that, since the Wagner Private Military group happens to be operating on the orders of the Kremlin, how far would the UK go, with regards to limiting the operations of Wagner forces.
“Sanctions are not enough. The UK needs to proscribe the Wagner group for what it is; a terrorist organization.”
Alicia Kearns, Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee.
