Wagner Group's major recruitment drive for African missions post-Prigozhin
9:22 AM EDT, April 5, 2024
The Wagner Group has initiated an extensive campaign to recruit mercenaries for missions in Africa, marking its most significant effort since the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and following modifications made by Russian authorities within the organization. It appears that their services are in demand once again.
Six months after Yevgeny Prigozhin's demise, PMC Wagner has embarked on its first major recruitment drive to enlist mercenaries for service in Africa.
Recruitment was rebooted exactly in February 2024, with Wagner fighters actively seeking individuals willing to join the fight. Journalists recall that this follows an almost year-long hiatus, during which efforts were focused on gathering mercenary groups to participate in the conflict in Ukraine.
According to the Meduza portal, the current recruitment drive is large-scale and involves a team of ten recruiters. Previously, mercenary enlistment was conducted through just one or two contact numbers, with sporadic recruitment advertisements posted in specific VKontakte groups.
This time, the approach has shifted. Over 20 posts were made on the organization's main Telegram account alone within a month. Moreover, recruitment messages were also shared on PMC Wagner "employees'" personal accounts.
Where are Wagner Group fighters headed?
Journalists report that the Wagner Group is recruiting fighters for operations in Mali. Notably, the recruitment is not limited to Russians, as citizens of Belarus are also eligible.
Recruiters offer potential candidates a six-month contract, a salary of 240,000 rubles (over $3,330), and life insurance, terms similar to those provided to mercenaries for the Ukrainian conflict.
It's worth noting the significant impact Wagner Group and Yevgeny Prigozhin had on Ukrainians on the battlefield. However, at a critical juncture, they ceased fighting. Subsequently, as Prigozhin announced, they confronted the commanders of the Russian army and advanced towards Moscow. Nevertheless, the authorities swiftly quelled Wagner's coup attempt.
Several months after these events, Yevgeny Prigozhin and some of his associates died in a plane crash near Tver. The unit continues to operate in Ukraine but has been marginalized within the Russian military. This was a point of contention for the oligarch, famously known as "Putin's chef," who strongly resisted subordination to the military. Ultimately, however, President Putin ensured PMC Wagner’s compliance with his directives.
