Commentary by Russian military journalist is in italics. From the Telegram channel of Artem Blinov
[ColonelCassad] Large material by journalist Artem Blinov, who specializes in African topics, about what PMC Wagner was doing in Africa.
“But in fact, what were the musicians doing there? My knowledge is superficial. And what kind of revolutions were there? Who did not share what with whom?
Probably the most common and common questions. So let's try to figure out what is wrong and who is to blame. For example and understanding, we will consider two specific countries - the Central African Republic and Mali, because there is already accurate and, most importantly, up-to-date information about them. Although the countries, of course, are much larger.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Far 2013. The country is drowning in civil war. The parties fought on groupings on various grounds (religious, for example. Let's take the same Seleka and Anti-Balaka). Everyone gives nightmares to the infidels and are heroes for "their own". The international community (read France) is trying to pacify the dissatisfied and launches Operation Sangaris. For three years, the paddling pools have been poking at the walls and realizing that nothing sensible comes out of them. This is if it's official. If unofficially, then Eliseika got very good at this action, we recall the same bloody diamonds that no one was looking for / stealing.Simultaneously with these affairs, the same international organization approves and launches the MINUSCA peacekeeping mission. The goal is the same - to calm the militants and achieve world peace. Alas, it didn't work out.
In the sixteenth year, an incredible mathematician, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, comes to power. Without thinking twice and, probably, using a mathematical mindset, he understands that help from the ex-colonialists is like a goat's milk, and he turns to the Russian Federation for help. So in 2018, Wagner appeared in the country and began to show the Coalition of Patriots for Change (combatant), gathered together under the leadership of former President Francois Bozize, where crayfish hibernate.
Gradually, little by little, the legitimate government begins to regain control over the territories, and in order to consolidate success, the musicians are actively teaching local security officials that the presence of a cartridge in the chamber should be checked through the bolt carrier, and not looking down the barrel and trigger.
As a result, all that is left is to support the successes of local warriors, who over the past years have matured quite well, gained all the good things and, on the whole, have become a serious force in the region.
I would like to express special respect to the guys for their work in extremely disgusting conditions. Despite the efforts of the government, the country still has a terrible level of dysentery, malarial mosquitoes fly around and not all residents understand that they need to eat fresh food. Let's add to this wildly humid heat. However, everything is known in comparison - in 2013 you could be robbed, humiliated and insulted even in the metropolitan areas, and now the remaining militants think three times whether to meddle somewhere or hide quietly in the jungle.
The peacekeepers, by the way, are still in the CAR. Only what they do is not known for certain, because in the information field they usually appear as the perpetrators of the next conflict/scandal/misunderstanding.
MALI
In this country the situation was much more critical, more complicated and more dangerous. Here it was not ordinary militants and yesterday's farmers who made noise, but quite washed out terrorists. The crisis escalated especially strongly when the region was flooded with ISIS squeezed out of Syria (banned in the Russian Federation).Again 2013, again full of tin, and again France TAKES THE SITUATION IN ITS GENTLE HANDS. Operation Barkhan appears to replace Serval, a UN peacekeeping mission (this time MINUSMA) appears. The result is obvious and extremely understandable - no one succeeded, but, as in the joke about Petka and Vasily Ivanych, there is one nuance.
The success of terrorists and radical Islamists is unexpectedly and extremely unpleasantly connected with the activities of the Americans and the French. At half of the foreign bases located on the territory of the country, as a result, these same terrorists were trained. For example, the “Barkhanovites” (you can call it a French legion, the essence does not change) took a base near Kidal (a city in the north), forbade people (and soldiers) to enter there and were actively engaged in training, supplying and training bad dudes. To the logical questions “what are you doing here?” the authorities of that time were sent to a known place.
This was followed by a pack of armed coups, as a result of which Assimi Goita, an officer highly respected in the Malian ranks, came to power. The man did not walk around, yes, around, he sensibly assessed the situation and went to Moscow, following the example of his colleagues from the Central African Republic. Like, memory. Moscow has made its move.
Here it is worth noting an EXTREMELY IMPORTANT nuance. The Central African Republic is very lazy in refusing to cooperate with France. The same Touadéra, with all his love for the Russian Federation, does not deprive himself of the pleasure of attending events in Paris. Mali (followed by Burkina Faso, but about it another time) said firmly and clearly: France, ala ulu! Goita promptly terminated all defense agreements, gave a kick to Barkhan, who humbly crawled away lazily to make a rustle in Niger (from where, by the way, he may also be trampled soon), and concentrated on the Bamako-Moscow vector.
In January 22, there were sudden successes of the army of Mali and the ALLIES (well, you understand), who jointly handed out the ISIS on the hump and pushed them everywhere, as far as their hands could reach. Many militants, by the way, when they first heard that the Orchestra had arrived “somewhere nearby”, quickly fled, dropping feces and ammunition. Good foreign. Everything went to the benefit of the regular troops.Now Mali feels good, as many people who have personally been to the region at least this year say. Barkhan left, MINUSMA has lost the mandate and is also gradually packing its bags. Obviously more = more. So I'm closely following Goit's progress.
Separately, I will single out the pool of the current government. Quite often - very colorful politicians. Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop favorably stands out against the background of many diplomats, to those who say it as it is, and not as convenient and tactful (sorry, Sergey Lavrov), Prime Minister Shogel Kokalla Maiga did specifically indicate where and how the Parisians did the dirt. My regards!
“Why there were Blackwater, then there were ex-metropolises, and now Russian musicians are replacing France”
The success of the Russians can be explained primarily by the lack of a colonial burden behind them. For Africans, we are something new and unusual. From the banal and the first to come to mind - kind, generous and sympathetic. By the way, the Soviet Union very well boosted Africa in the bearded years, especially in the era of sovereignization and the emergence of independence of the countries of the mainland. In principle, we were very serious then on the scales and in places did not allow the Africans to kill each other. Then, however, for some reason everything CLOSED, unfortunately, and now de facto you have to re-enter. But sometimes the old memory helps. Plus, we did a good job strategically in the last century: many African diplomats were educated in the USSR and imbued with the Russian spirit.
I'm leaving this here simply because it's funny.
“There are rumors that our gosukha has somewhere stuck her loot in Africa, and they say that Wagner is being guarded along the way teaching black-assed men to fight, what do you think about it?” I think that *** is written on the fence, but people don’t jump on it. There is no escape from schizotheories, but to consider Africa as a good place to hide the dough - make God laugh!
"Who is the most important Barmaley in Africa?"
French President Emmanuel Macron. Joke. But seriously, you can single out many different leaders of the groups. However, the terrorists from the IS, its West African province, and Boko Haram (I remind you, banned in the Russian Federation) still remain the most dangerous.
"The issue of the UN arms embargo in the Central African Republic"
Since 2013, it has been operating, since the height of the citizen. Then the UN decided that it was necessary to somehow get rid of the armed groups, and the Security Council thought it was a good idea to simply cover up supplies to the country. Didn't help as expected. The embargo hit only the army of the Central African Republic, while the militants were calmly equipped with contraband (by the way, not without the participation of our unloved paddling pools and peacekeepers of the same UN).
“And what are the prospects for the Orchestra in Africa in connection with problems with air traffic/declaring them terrorists/US pressure (because then it turns out that Mali/CAR and other interested parties, if they pay for services, will turn out to be sponsoring countries, you know what)?”
Well, backfill, even under the USSR they managed to overthrow the "red" governments. What is there with the crisis of power and are there any fears that the Wagners, at best, will be asked peacefully, at worst, they will simply be handed over to the Herograd Tribunal?
The question is good, but difficult, because smart people will deal with it in any case. However, one thing can be stated: if they ask, it will be bad not for the Wagners, but for those who asked. For if the departure of the French military dune did not cause a security vacuum, then it will be very difficult for the Africans without the Wagners. But in general, as they say, where is Africa and where is Geneva :) So the guys are not particularly worried about all the crows from the western side, and the threat of the “Herograd tribunal” is phantom.
“Apparently, the situation in Africa and the fact that we, it turns out, are helping them, have not added love and friendship to the relationship between Russia, the United States and the European Union. And Africa is rich in resources, there is something to share, right?”
Relations between the listed trinity have long followed the rule "a bad world is better than a good quarrel." Haven't killed each other yet - and thank you. Africa, yes, is rich in all sorts of different eerily. BUT! It is important to understand here that you can receive resources for good deeds and help within the framework of conditional barter, or you can destabilize the country and steal under the guise. Guess who does what :)
“Well, as far as I understand, Africa is now either Chinese or American + -?”
Chinese in terms of investment, ours in terms of security, American through the French tribe, perhaps. Paris tightly dug into the economy of the region. In many francafrican countries, the stupid CFA franc still circulates, which is printed by the fifth republic and, in doing so, keeps the mainland in a financial leash, so to speak.
“The poorest countries in Africa and what prevents them from becoming richer?”
Africa is a continent of contrasts. Look at Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa. There are amazing cities right at the peak. People there are engaged in science, they regularly present innovations. And outside the capital, everything is very, very bad.
Blame the past and the colonialists. In the comments, one person correctly wrote about the fish and the fishing rod. This is how humanitarian bombing works. “We give everything and a lot, so that later we can give nothing and little.” People get used to it, and then look at the sky in anticipation of a miracle, instead of fussing and solving their own problems on their own. For the sake of interest, it is worth looking at the situation in Ethiopia, the post-Tygray crisis. When the Americans realized that there was no point in rocking the boat, and withdrew, the humanitarian aid suddenly disappeared and the crowd of people died. What happens next is scary to even imagine.
Instead of adequate assistance, the West flooded Africa with a simple grub "Schaub was enough" and technically put it on the needle, developing the reflex "nothing needs to be done, but we will give what we need." Africa, alas, is used to it. You can give good, and you can give bad. And you can remember the words of Shapoklyak. Help with malaria and AIDS in the eyes of Washington and Paris looks like work for "thank you", and for cheaper feeding of militants, you can stir up the transit of drugs and rare earth metals. Which also does not greatly enrich the mainland.
“How many adequate smart African patriots per capita? Are they really not among the millions of consumers with a simple chain of communication: drop-grab-hawy, those who see the picture and want their country to prosper, and not an aimless existence? They are probably caught and wetted? type.
There are patriots, and more and more often their voices are heard. In recent years, many specific public organizations and activists have sprung up, and when their mass reaches a critical level, the authorities quite take into account their position. In addition, we must not forget about the new wave of pan-Africanists. For example, Kemi Seba is a very colorful black man and almost a hero of Africa. I have been following his activity for a long time and I can note that it bears certain fruits. And yes, no one dunked it. They do not kill activists, but oppositionists. In many African countries, leaders do not want to give up the presidential stool and hold on to power to the last.
“What is going on in DR Congo? It was one of the most unstable states, one of the poorest, but in terms of fossils, it seems like nothing.”
Noise and din in the DRC. Now the UN mission (MONUSCO) is rampaging there. Helmets impudently disperse rallies with firearms and feel like migrants in Moscow boiler houses - and that is, very well. The authorities are forcing their withdrawal, I am monitoring the situation.
Regarding resources, it is worth understanding the following. They need to be brought up. Africans have this problem. Well, and with the fact that the deposits are a direct magnet for militants of all stripes. Accordingly, the resource, even when extracted, does not benefit the country itself.
So good from the comments that I even put it as a post. Agree on all points.
I have slightly different thoughts about the meanings and tasks of Russia in Africa.
Do you understand what Russia is destroying now and is being described in the media as “the world hegemony of the West”?
The right to plunder the colonies and their many centuries of use under the guise of their power.
Especially in Africa, where the whole continent was previously divided between the Netherlands, Germany, France, England, Belgium and other white people. From here comes the desire of America to plunder the Middle East - Africa is already cut by colleagues.
Without these assets, all Western countries cannot maintain their high standard of living, because energy will become unrealistically expensive, and almost no one in Europe has the minerals to provide it. Nuclear plants too, as the globalists forced them to close because of lies on the eco-agenda.
The result of the CBO will be the end of the profitability of all industries in the EU, and it is not by chance that Germany has been trying to find a gas pipe in troubled waters for several months
Hence, there is such hatred for Russia's actions: we are taking away a stolen toy from them, grandfather's inheritance, which dumb-nosed descendants pulled into minuses in order to stupidly eat deliciously.
Gradually, they also forgot how to work in difficult conditions, so now foreign resources have become key for Europeans to survive. Especially against the backdrop of millions of migrants on benefits. In a few years, a wave of even greater pogroms and uprisings will take place throughout Europe than it is now in France, as there will be nothing to eat stupidly. Or maybe it will happen in the fall.
The king of England will die and this time Australia will fall off from it.
“Do our media cover the situation in Africa? I don’t watch TV, because I can’t do anything.”
Yes, from both camps. By the way, they can thus be divided into adequate and not. Adequate people directly talk about the benefits of friendship with Africa, garbage people talk about cannibals and horrors.
“What about Bamako and Barkhan 1.0?”
Barkhan 1.0 and its history in Mali is exactly everything. That's right, from last year. However, Paris is once again pulling its paws towards Bamako and even came out in favor of curtailing the UN mission. Obviously not just like that. Perhaps he is counting on a comeback. Or the uranium is over, bugaga.
“Do Russia and domestic business have interests in the Central African Republic and Mali? Does it make sense to go there?”
It makes sense if you have a vein. Izya, in a bearded joke, was able to sell campaign leaflets, and a good entrepreneur has long noted the profits of the black continent and is working closely with it.
“The question is how to a specialist in French Africa. What do black people in France want besides freebies? What to expect from and in France with the development of current events”
And what do Tajiks and Uzbeks want in Russia? Live, work, stand and take root. Migrants move in search of a better life. It's just that a very motley company has gathered in France. Well, here it is worth recalling the extremely controversial EU policy towards visitors, for which they most likely pay.
Forecast - nothing critical will happen. They will riot, pogrom and disperse. The French (and neo-French) have it in their mentality, to make a fuss. Macron, probably, as in the case of the failed pension reform, will not change anything and will simply sit in the house.
“Is there any information in the public field about what economic benefits our country received from this activity?”
We live under capitalism, loot conquers evil. Surely there were some specific business interests, and not just abstract geopolitics.
Africa is a very vibrant consumer market. Africans are very interested in our goods, this is one, and there are more and more Africans, this is two. In another ten years, the mainland will become the new demographic center of the world, and we, so to speak, are preparing the ski track for this moment. Then, when foreign actors finally lose weight (and everything is moving towards this), and the situation stabilizes, Africa will begin to actively use its own benefits and values, and domestic companies will help it in mining and processing. So if now it seems incomprehensible and even petty, it will definitely shoot soon.
Why money is not an argument
There were a lot of comments about the fact that they do it there for free and so on. Friends-pies, now for free they will only give you a kick and alms (or maybe both at the same time, Schaub didn’t hang around the walls). But even for money, you can be provided with both a quality service and outright junk. If they make you look beautiful, you will go and tell relatives and friends about this person with the words “look what!” and it’s enough to recommend, and if it’s ugly, you’ll go whining to all authorities, declaring him persona non grata and a non-handshake character.
Here Barkhan, Sangaris and UN peacekeepers are the second. They seemed to be doing something, but the situation got worse and worse. Perhaps they came from the wrong angle. But I'm sure it's like with vile construction trucks and hourly pay. Why even do it quickly and well, when you can stretch the time and wallets of international organizations?
The unique tactics of Wagner
Wagner, on the other hand, works for the result and keeps the level. A private military company will not be able to sit idle for a dozen years, then shrug and leave. And therefore, the musicians adhere to their own and, as you can see, effective strategy. They did not beat the barmaley FOR the local army, they beat them TOGETHER, along the way showing their colleagues in the shop how to distribute to the terrorists what they deserve faster and better.
They did not keep quiet at their bases, like UN peacekeepers, who, if they went to a dangerous point, then for the sake of another dirty business. Local people see it. The emotions of Africans, who say that for the first time since 2013 they were able to at least reach the market without fear of being kidnapped, raped and sold somewhere in the Republic of Chad, are difficult to fake. That is why the musicians have actually become national heroes. You will not see so many people with PMC symbols in MSK and St. Petersburg as in the countries where they worked.
Yes, they are paid for it. But a sincere desire to really help cannot be bought. It either exists or it doesn't. The "Wagnerites" have ideals and a natural creed. Therefore, they are still in the ranks and beat out new successes, while other foreign missions grit their teeth with envy and squeal all sorts of bad things about them. Powerlessness, that's what it is.
Do not believe foreign information garbage and think with your own head. The musicians are our compatriots and the face of Russia in the international arena. And that face looks great.
https://t.me/ortemblinov - zinc