A statue depicting Russian soldiers protecting civilians in Bangui, Central African Republic. — ©2024 The New York Times Company
FOR years, Russia covertly propped up authoritarian leaders, exploited natural resources and fought extremists in a number of African countries.
It worked through the Wagner Group, a shadowy web of political advisers, entrepreneurs and mercenaries. But it never revealed how closely it was controlling Wagner’s activities around the world, maintaining a distance as numerous accusations of human rights abuses were levelled against the group’s operatives on the ground.
