This paper analyses the Wagner Group’s operations in Africa through the lens of Alex de Waal’s political marketplace framework, drawing connections between Russia’s domestic market for violence and those of Wagner’s African client states. It argues that the privatization of security in 1990s Russia created the conditions for the emergence of Wagner, similar to the political upheaval experienced by many African countries in the late 20th century. By examining the political and security environments of the African countries to which Wagner has deployed, this paper demonstrates how Wagner embeds itself in local and regional political marketplaces, adapting its role based on local contexts.
The analysis compares Wagner’s successful interventions with its failures, identifying the conditions that have shaped divergent outcomes. The paper explores Wagner’s involvement in resource capture and commercial ventures, and its role in advancing Russian foreign policy. It highlights how Wagner’s criminal behaviour reflects its ambiguous legal status— existing at the behest of both the Russian state and the autocratic rulers who elicit its services. Drawing from academic and investigative sources, this study provides insight into how Wagner occupies a niche in Africa’s markets in violence.
