African expansion

In each country, where there are people of the “Kremlin Chef”, the tasks and scope of work vary greatly. In some countries, the lead role is played by military mercenaries. In others, there are only political strategists (as in the DRC and in Zimbabwe described above). In the third, in addition to those and others, Prigozhin already has business interests.

Valery Zakharov, the Russian security adviser to the President of the Central African Republic arrived in Rwanda in early January 2019. Dmitry Utkin, better known for his nome de guerre “Wagner,” was supposed to fly with Zakharov, but at the last moment his trip was postponed, The Project was told by a political strategist who worked in Africa, and whose story was confirmed by a former mercenary. Both men work for Prigozhin.

In Chad and Benin, Prigozhin’s people interact with politicians close to the armed Muslim group “Seleka,” according to a source familiar to “back-office” and confirmed by the political strategist who worked in Africa.

Political strategists are accompanied everywhere by armed men associated with the Wagner group or Russian Special Services. For example, in Madagascar, the protection of one of the presidential candidates was charged to a Russian man named Konstantin (pictured on the right behind a candidate, with glasses and a baseball cap). Everybody called Konstantin “The Colonel,” said the Malagasy source, who worked with a group of spin doctors.

In South Africa, Russian political strategists plan to support the ruling party in the elections in the summer of 2019, according to a presentation prepared by political strategists. A copy of it was provided to The Project by the center “Dossier.” In Zambia, Prigozhin’s people are engaged only in sociological research, since the elections are scheduled for the summer of 2021. In February-March 2019, experts conducted 12 focus groups, and the results were sad for current President Edgar Lungu. Respondents spoke about him as a “pathetic,” “weak leader” and an “alcoholic,” according to a report on the study, a copy of which is available to The Project.

Finally, Russians are also active in Cameroon. In 2018, they met with representatives of President Paul Biya and offered him their services to provide information for his election campaign, and then to “neutralize protest moods both on the streets and in the information space,” as is said in a letter given to representatives of Biya (The Project obtained a copy from the center “Dossier”). At the end of 2017, Prigozhin’s companies also shipped equipment of unknown purpose to Cameroon, according to internal correspondence of the companies “M invest” and “Euro Polis.”