The Wolf I Feed: Typology of the Wagner Group in Africa

Abstract The Wagner Group is often described as private military company, criminal organization or even a terrorist group, yet the vague descriptions of its nature are not sufficient to understand its activities. Using typologies of violent non-state actors, the article develops a conceptual study aiming at placing the group in the existing systems. It is being analyzed on cases from southern Africa, the triangle of Libya, Sudan and the Central African Republic, and the Western and central Sahel. the group’s activities resemble those of a PMSC , a paramilitary organization, and a criminal organization but given the specifics of the Russian environment, it is the closest to the paramilitary organization.