The close relations between Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russia's President Vladimir Putin have raised the geopolitical stakes of the group's operations in Africa and its ties to military regimes in the region...

Col Goïta's regime exploits local resentment of sanctions to stir up anger against the bloc but has been welcoming the arrival of Russian forces and probably despite denials as many as 1 000 mercenaries from the Wagner Group headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin a close associate of Russia's President Vladimir Putin (AC Vol 63 No 2 War dogs' old tricks)...

Wagner Group Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin a close associate of Russia's President Vladimir Putin tweeted on 24 January that the coup in Burkina Faso represented a 'new era of decolonisation' a direct reference to declining French influence in the region...

President Vladimir Putin's government is organising the second Russia-Africa summit in St...

MOSCOW'S DIPLOMACY AND SECURITY SERVICES IN QUESTION However successful the Africa-Russia summit in St Petersburg President Vladimir Putin faces three crucial long-term challenges...

However just now Mali offers a particularly interesting prospect for Russian President Vladimir Putin: a chance to re-establish Russia as a significant player in a region where France the European Union and the US have up to now exerted the most influence...

Wagner is widely believed to be a proxy for the Russian state and its boss business tycoon Yevgeny Prigozhin is close to President Vladimir Putin...

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his prime minister have given their imprimatur to the agreement...