The head of the Russian private paramilitary company Wagner, Evgeny Prigozhin, 62, died on Wednesday August 24 in a plane crash in the Tver region of Russia.
All 10 passengers (including three crew members) on board the plane which was flying from Moscow to Saint Petersburg are said to have died, according to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. An investigation is said to be underway to try to elucidate the circumstances of the crash.
This incident came two months after Prigozhin tried to attack the power of Vladimir Putin, in the context of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On June 24, Wagner’s boss entered Russia with his troops with the aim of overthrowing the military command, and therefore “liberating the Russian people”, in his words.
But Prigozhin had not reached the end of his project, declaring that he wanted to avoid “Russian blood flowing”. Russian President Vladimir Putin had evoked, after this failed coup, a “betrayal” and “a stab in the back”. This character, however, escaped any legal proceedings.
Mercenaries from the Wagner company are present in certain African countries (Mali, Central African Republic) where they help the authorities to fight against armed groups. But they are accused by some Western capitals and the UN of being responsible for the abuses against the populations.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1291 of 08/23/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
